i-blue: Hyundai's groundbreaking hybrid and future green plans

By Justin Couture, Sympatico / MSN Autos

At this year’s LA Auto Show, Hyundai didn’t just unveil a single new car, but an entire plan towards improving the fuel efficiency and environmental friendliness of its vehicles. The strategy is called “i-blue” and it will play a big role in Hyundai’s ability to meet the pending 2015 US fuel economy regulations. These require an auto manufacturer's line up to require a 35 mpg (6.7 l/100 km) average across its entire fleet.

One of the first vehicles we’ll see under i-blue in North America is the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. Set to debut next year as a 2011 model year vehicle, it mates an efficient 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine to a parallel hybrid drivetrain, which Hyundai calls “blue drive”. Unlike Toyota’s Camry Hybrid or Nissan’s Altima Hybrid, the Sonata utilizes a six-speed automatic transmission.

First Look: 2010 Lincoln MKZ

By Justin Couture, Sympatico / MSN Autos

We’ve known about the revisions for Ford’s 2010 model year Fusion since late October, but Ford has kept its ritzy twin, the luxurious Lincoln MKZ under wraps until now.

For model year 2010 the MKZ has been restyled in the image of Lincoln’s flagship MKS sedan. The MKZ now sports a broad, toothy grille, plus new xenon headlamps with adaptive cornering – the new look is certain to leave a stronger lasting impression than the outgoing design. At the rear, the MKZ’s features a new trunk graced with slim LED tail lights that almost stretch clean from side to side, separated only by the Lincoln cross-hair logo. MKZs also receive new alloy wheels and a Lincoln badge on the front fenders.

First Look: 2010 Lexus RX350 & RX450h

By Justin Couture, Sympatico / MSN Autos

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. It’s a pretty good phrase to live by if you’re in the auto industry, and it’s a rule that Lexus has followed to a tee with the new third generation RX luxury crossover.

Since 1998, the RX has been Lexus’ best-selling sport utility/crossover, beating the truck-based GX and LX-series vehicles. Part of its success can be attributed to it being one of the first car-based crossovers on the market, and in more recent years, due to the launch of the RX400h hybrid model. With such a strong following and a positive image, it isn’t difficult to see why Lexus didn’t want to change its recipe.

From far, the 2010 RX looks more or less the same as the outgoing model, though the new crossover rides on a marginally longer wheelbase and slightly wider track. Over the past three generations, the RX’s body has become progressively flatter, and more streamlined; this latest model cuts through the air with ease due to a car-like drag rating of 0.32 cd.
 

Honda FC Sport - fuel cell sports car of the future?

By Justin Couture, Sympatico / MSN Autos

With growing concerns over the environment, will high-performance sports cars go the way of the dodo? Cars like BMW’s new clean diesel 335d and Tesla’s electric Roadster are current proof that performance and environmental friendliness aren’t mutually exclusive, but what about ten or twenty years down the road? Honda is a firm believer that there’s a place for an environmentally friendly sports car, and has demonstrated a potential solution with its futuristic hydrogen-powered FC Sport concept, a car that it is displaying this week in LA.

"The Honda FC Sport explores how to satisfy automotive performance enthusiasts in a world beyond petroleum," said Dan Bonawitz, vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "People who love sports cars will still have a reason to love in a hydrogen-powered future."

Lamborghini debuts Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder in LA

By Justin Couture, Sympatico / MSN Autos

Earlier this year, Lamborghini gave its “baby” Gallardo a major upgrade. Building off the Gallardo Superleggera, Lamborghini outfitted the standard version it with a bigger, more technically advanced engine, an improved gearbox and mildly tweaked its looks. Together, these updates make the Gallardo LP560-4 an even stronger performer on the road and on the track.

For the Los Angeles Auto Show, Lamborghini revealed the Spyder version of the LP560-4. Just like its hardtop brother, the Spyder features a 5.2-litre V10 engine that makes 552 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. In spite of its additional power, Lamborghini managed to make the engine 18-percent more fuel efficient, with significant reductions in fuel economy. Not bad!

Boxster and Cayman receive new engines and PDK twin-clutch gearbox

By Justin Couture, Sympatico / MSN Autos

Here's a first look at Porsche's freshly updated Boxster and Cayman mid-engined sports cars, which will be debuting later today in Los Angeles.

Visually, the alterations to the model year 2010 Boxster and Cayman are mild; the cars feature new headlamps that are slightly different in shape (available with xenon bulbs and adaptive beams to illuminate around corners), a reworked front bumper and new LED tail lights. Both models will be available with a new lighting package that fits low-mounted LED daytime running lights in place of fog lamps. The LED DRLs fitted to the Boxster are a flat, horizontal strip similar to the ones featured on the 911 Turbo, while the Cayman’s are positioned in a circular shape.

Toyota's natural gas-powered Camry Concept debuts in LA

By Justin Couture, Sympatico / MSN Autos

Toyota’s big reveal at this year’s LA Auto Show is the CNG Camry Hybrid Concept.

As the name suggests, it’s a Toyota Camry Hybrid that’s been converted to run on compressed natural gas. This might not seem like a terribly big deal... and in reality, it probably isn’t. Though there are a number of aftermarket companies offering CNG conversion kits for regular cars like the Chrysler 300 and Ford Crown Victoria, there is only one brand that offers a CNG-powered car to the general public - Honda, with its Civic GX. Even then, the Civic GX is not widely available; it is only sold in select US states and is unavailable in Canada.

Nevertheless, Toyota believes that a CNG Camry Hybrid could catch the eye of the general public due to the low cost of natural gas and the ecological advantages they have over their gasoline and diesel-powered counterparts.

Styling, engine and interior upgrades arrive for Pontiac's G6

By Justin Couture, Sympatico / MSN Autos

GM might not be holding a press conference at this year’s LA Auto Show, but it will be displaying the updated 2009.5 model-year G6 Sedan, Coupe and Convertible.

Pontiac’s sporty midsize line-up receives a more European look that includes new bumpers front and rear. Though there’s no mistaking the G6 for say, a BMW or Mercedes-Benz, the revised design makes it one of the more handsome looking domestic midsize products on the market.

Inside, G6s receive a few changes, including new HVAC controls plus the corporate GM stereo system with standard aux-in and available USB integration. Buyers can also select from new interior colours, including two-tone seats in either cloth or leather. With a growing number of jurisdictions outlawing driving and talking without a hands-free headset, the G6 also gains Bluetooth connectivity.

VW heads to the Baja 1000 with turbodiesel Touareg racer

By Justin Couture, Sympatico / MSN Autos

Earlier this year, Volkswagen announced that it would be showing off a brand new, lightweight mid-engined roadster at the LA auto show. That’s pretty exciting news, seeing as us North Americans are missing out on the sexy Scirocco sports coupe. But, if you were planning on catching a glimpse of the sporty concept, you’ll need to wait for another month. Volkswagen has decided to delay its unveiling until January at the North American International Auto Show. Instead, LA auto show-goers will get to see the new Touareg TDI Trophy Truck which is... well, still cool.

The Race Touareg TDI will compete in the Baja 1000 off-road desert endurance race, that’s set to take place later this month. While Volkswagen has entered various Touaregs into off-road races before such as the Dakar Rally, this particular one was purpose built to meet Baja regulations. It also marks the first time a diesel-powered truck has entered into the SCORE Trophy Truck racing series.

Fuel cell Kia Borrego - world's greenest full-size SUV?

By Justin Couture, Sympatico / MSN Autos

Hydrogen-powered cars are still years from being available to the mainstream public, but that hasn't stopped Kia from displaying its advancements in hydrogen technology. At this year's Los Angeles auto show, Kia will debut a fuel cell version of its Borrego full-size SUV, which packs the brand's latest fuel cell developments.

The Borrego FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) uses the same basic fuel cell system that was first launched in parent company Hyundai’s i-Blue concept car (pictured below), however, Kia added a few of its own tweaks to allow better operation in real world conditions and improve its on-road performance. The Borrego has a set of supercapacitors – small, high-power energy storage devices – will help it to perform well in cold and wintery weather, conditions that are normally troublesome for fuel cell vehicles. The supercapacitor set up also adds 134 horsepower to the net power of the car, while the fuel cells alone are good for 154 horsepower.