By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

Being a maker of sports and grand touring automobiles for 100 years means you've done at least a few things right along the way. Despite being near-death for more than a few years and needing some serious cash infusions along the way, British car-maker Aston Martin is celebrating its centenary in 2013. And to help blend its past performance with modern design, it's given itself the CC100 as a birthday gift.

The open-topped roadster reminds us of the Le Mans-winning DBR1 from 1959, the last time the brand took victory there. The details of the concept are pretty stunning, like the flip-up 'doors, the race-spec wheels and tires, along with the throwback leather belts and door-pulls inside.

Under the hood, Aston's familiar 6.0-litre V12 with a paddle-shifted sequential transmission. The company figures it'll do 0-100 km/h in under four seconds and top out over 290 km/h. The CC100 was introduced as during a pre-race lap at the Nurburgring 24 in Germany, a race the DBR1 also won in '59...

What do you think? We figure Aston Martin will put at least a limited number into production. Why not? It has no problem pulling seven-figure sums for its small-run projects like the One-77 and V12 Zagato.

Like it? Love it? Loathe it? Let us know.

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

In BMW's long history of coupes, there's only been one that's ever been powered by a V12: the '90s-era 850i. A fantastic, albeit heavy, gran touring car that never quite caught on as the company hoped. Using the same V12 found in the more sober 7 Series, the big two-door started life with a near-300-horsepower 5.0-litre unit. Over the next decade, the 850 gained additional letters - Ci and ultimately CSi - and displacement, which meant power rose accordingly. However, even though the final CSi sported 375 horsepower, its added mass meant even the lowliest V8-powered 840i was just as fast and significantly less expensive.

Nearly 15 years after the last 850i rolled off the line in 1999, BMW and Pininfarina look to be channeling the car's spirit for an upcoming concept. From the photographic teasers, the ridiculously named BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe will sport some sort of V12. We'd guess the twin-turbocharged 6.6-litre verison found in the Rolls-Royce Ghost, which is normally rated at 563 horsepower, but which BMW will probably tune to over 600 horses. 

Word is that under the coupe's skin lies a fully-functioning 760iL chassis, meaning it's road-legal and drivable. That makes the possibility that Pininfarina build at least a few examples for customers a pretty strong guess.

The concept will be revealed at the annual Concorso D'Eleganza at the stunning Villa d'Este on Italy's Lake Como on May 24. Since BMW is the major sponsor of the event, it's taken to revealing some pretty fantastic one-offs, whether with outside design houses like Pininfarina or on its own. Some recent notables include the 2012 BMW Zagato Coupe, the BMW 328 Homage in 2010 and the BMW M1 Homage back in 2008.

Once official photos and other details are released, we'll make sure to post them here. In the meantime, which of BMW's Villa d'Este concepts is your favourite? Let us know in the comments.

Toyota Me.We Concept car

 By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos

Last week in Paris, Japan’s Toyota revealed its new Me.We Concept. Unlike most show cars these days, the Me.We doesn’t brag about having a gazillion horsepower or is jammed with leather-this or power-that or more infotainment goodies than you’ll find at home. Instead, the Toyota concept is more like what an Apple iPod is compared to your grandparents’ hi-fidelity home stereo system; taking the less is more approach.

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

Although the famous slogan "It gives you wings" belongs to action-sports sponsor Red Bull, perhaps city car maker Smart could pay a licencing fee and use it for its new production car. The Smart forjeremy was a crazy winged concept car co-developed with American fashion designer Jeremy Scott that we figured would just stay that way: a concept.

Nope. Smart says the forjeremy is actually entering production and various people around the world will actually be able to buy one. 

Beyond the special paint colours and upgraded, custom leather interior parts, the main talking point will always be the pair of wings sprouting off the back.

In a press release, Scott explained, "I wanted to design something out of the ordinary, something that expressed my dreams and fantasies and that transferred my fashion ideas to automotive design. I see myself driving this car and can well imagine my friends and cool people all over the world loving the unique design of this smart.”

The model will be called the fortwo edition by Jeremy Scott and will be available with eiher a 100-horsepower 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder or as electric vehicles with either 55 kW or 60 kW. Pricing for Europe has been set from €33,333 to €40,600, which means from $45K-$55K Canadian.

So the Jeremy Scott Smart joins the John Varvatos Chrysler 300C and clothes by Isaac Mizrahi 'inspired' by the new Chevrolet Malibu as the latest in a long line of fashion designers asked to cross-pollinate with cars. Which has been your favourite over the years? The Bill Blass Lincolns? The Levis-branded AMCs? None of them? Let us know in the comments.

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

There are times when new concepts or production reveals are genuine surprises, like the Subaru WRX Concept, which no one figured would be as attractive or aggressive as it turned out to be. However, when BMW said it would be launching a smaller X4 crossover to complement its larger X6 original, the photos here aren't shocking.

Set for a reveal in Shanghai, the Concept X4 previews how the production version will likely appear in a year or so. The sharply raked roof and rear glass, petering out just before the integrated spoiler on the rear deck. There are some pretty bold character lines through the rear door that aren't on the X3...

The shapes used in its 'face' aren't unsurprising, although those will probably make way for more traditional black plastic mesh for production.

We do know the production X4 will share its platform and mechanicals with the current X3, so that means turbocharged four- and six-cylinder engines, standard xDrive all-wheel drive and eight-speed automatic transmissions. Luckily, the second-gen X3 is significantly improved, fun to drive and larger than before. We can expect the X4 to get its unique sheetmetal and wheels, but most of the interior will probably carry over. Not sure whether the X6's original four-person cabin - the back row was actually two bucket seats with a big console a la 5GT - will be preserved here, or if that'll be abandoned because of the smaller space.

What do you think? Should BMW be dipping its toes into even smaller pools of potential customers? Do you like the Concept X4? Let us know in the comments...

By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos

Among the annual “big” international auto shows, stereotypically, the Los Angeles gig is about “green” cars, the Detroit circus is about “power”, the Geneva salon is about “exotics” and the New York event focuses on “traditional American luxury.” And while both Cadillac (with its new 2014 CTS) and Buick (with its refreshed Regal and LaCrosse) will be showing off new versions of their traditional American luxury sedans, the relatively fresh genre of crossovers will dominate the debuts during this week's Big Apple media days.

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

Less than a year after introducing its seven-seat JX35 crossover to the world, Infiniti has already announced it's building a hybridized version that'll debut at the New York Auto Show in late March.

Now, before we get too far along, the vehicle will no longer be known as JX; according to Infiniti's Q-heavy naming scheme, the JX35 will now be the QX60. (The other Infiniti SUVs are: EX37 = QX50, FX = QX 70, QX56 = QX80.) So the QX60 hybrid will join the current M Hybrid (soon to be known as the Q70 Hybrid) and the upcoming G Sedan replacement, the Q50 Hybrid, in electrifying Infiniti's refreshed lineup.

The QX60 Hybrid uses a rather unique 2.5-litre supercharged engine (although we're not sure of cylinder count since the company has access to both), paired with a 15 kW electric motor. Total system power is quoted as around 250 horsepower, not far off the 265 horses found in the regular JX35/QX60. It uses a CVT and we'd guess has all-wheel drive, and Infiniti claims the usual "six-cylinder power with four-cylinder fuel economy." The lithium-ion battery is packaged under the trunk, so leaves access to the third row unchanged.

Infiniti figures the Hybrid will cost around $3,000 US more than the gasoline version. In Canadian terms, the regular JX35/QX60 runs just under $45,000, so you can do the math...

I spent about a week with the 'old' JX35 and found it to be really comfortable, spacious and luxurious. There were a few moments when it seemed like the CVT had become possessed - lots of rev-flaring with only steady throttle at while cruising, and a couple other instances. I'd hope those are simply bugs that'll get ironed out with future software updates.

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

The list of true competitors for the Mazda Miata has been pretty small since its introduction back in 1989. Most similarly sized rear-drive roadsters have either been too expensive (Audi TT, BMW Z3/Z4, Mercedes-Benz SLK, Porsche Boxster), too compromised (Toyota's last US-only MR2) or have been driven by the wrong wheels (third-gen Mercury Capri).

Well, the long-running rumour that Toyota (and by default, Subaru) would take another crack at it, this time using its fantastic GT 86 has finally been confirmed. (The GT86 is sold as the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ here in Canada.)

From appearance, it looks like the concept retains the coupe's 2+2 seating, and we'd guess the top is powered canvas rather than a heavy folding-metal hardtop. The larger wheels and low-profile tires are tucked way up into the arches, but that's pretty standard autoshow-preview stuff... Production versions would probably ride on the same modest 17-inchers found on regular models, although perhaps a different style to differentiate the two.

The biggest improvements appear in the cabin, which gets a leather-covered padded dash, some additional gauges and new radio, and some screaming yellow/gold interior accents and carpets.

We'd guess the addition of the convertible top probably adds about 100 kg to the GT 86, but it would retain most of the fun and rewarding behaviour we've grown to love so much.

Don't hold your breath on these ever coming to Canada... Maybe the US, but there are too few potential buyers up north.

The GT 86 Open Concept will be shown at the Geneva Motor Show later in March.

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

While the North American International Auto Show in Detroit just served up around 40 new designs or concepts, it looks like at least one company held back something for Canadians. The Montreal Auto Show media day was today and Honda surprised just about everyone by showing off its latest small-car concept, the GEAR.

Funny name, perhaps, but the three-door hatch and tiny footprint are perfectly suited for Canada, and Quebec in particular. The press release describes the design study as one inspired by 'fixies' (fixed-gear bicycles) and hits all the overused buzzwords that plague the industry: "young, urban, Gen-Y lifestyles," "simple, utilitarian, but also customizable, connected and full of personality."

Eh. Anyway, the GEAR is a real throwback to the original Civics and Japanese-market City microcars, but I'm sure it'd sell by the bucketload. 

What do you think? Is Honda's GEAR inspired or insipid?

By Mark Rechtin, AutoWeek

Honda will unveil a subcompact car-based SUV — smaller than the CR-V crossover — at the Detroit auto show in January, the automaker said Tuesday.

Given that Honda plans to build a crossover based on the Fit platform at its Mexico plant in 2014, this concept likely will preview what that vehicle will resemble.

In a release, Honda said the vehicle "is a global concept model combining a sporty and dynamic SUV profile with a spacious, functional interior."

Honda declined to give further details.