2012 Subaru Impreza Revealed: 2011 New York Auto Show

Subaru released a photo of the redesigned 2012 Impreza sedan, ahead of the car's unveiling at the upcoming 2011 New York Auto Show.

Subaru provided scant details on the redesigned Impreza, other than to say both four- and five-door models will make their world debut at the New York auto show, and that the new model will have a highway fuel-economy rating of 36 mpg, highest of any all-wheel-drive car sold in the U.S.

The company also said the new Impreza will have "a roomier interior and improved levels of comfort and refinement."

The fourth-generation Impreza, which goes on sale later this year in the U.S. as a 2012 model, is expected to feature Subaru's new-generation four-cylinder boxer engine, which will be offered in displacements of 2.0 and 2.5 liters. Subaru said output on the 2.0 engine remains the same, at 146 horsepower, while torque climbs from 141 to 145 pound-feet.

A version of the same boxer engine will power Subaru's new rear-wheel-drive sports car previewed at the recent 2011 Geneva Auto Show.-insideline.com

Mazda SkyActiv Technologies To Debut At New York Auto Show

Mazda has today confirmed that it will at last spill the beans on its Skyactivfuel-saving engines and transmissions at this month's New  York Auto Show.

The news follows the unveiling in February of the 2012 Mazda3, which will feature the new Skyactiv-G petrol engine and SkyActiv-Drive automatic transmission when it arrives in Australia later this year.

The Japanese carmaker first announced plans for ultra-efficient petrol and diesel engins back in 2009, but details and figures for the new SkyActiv range have remained a tightly-held secret.

There are promising signs however: it was revealed last year that the small 1.3 litre version of the engine will use just 3.3 l/100km of petrol - down from the 5.4 l/100km of the current 1.3 litre engine used in Japan.

In Australia, Mazda's 1.5 litre engine, which powers the Mazda2, uses 6.4 l/100km of petrol in manual guise.

A diesel engine will also feature in the SkyActive line, and a test drive in February of a SkyActiv-D powered Mazda6 revealed a strong future.

"Quite simply, it drove like no other diesel of my recent experience. Lighter on the inside - conrods, crank, pistons, skirts - and out, and with a compression ratio of just 14:1, the SkyActiv-D diesel spins as readily and effortlessly as a petrol engine," TMR's Tim O'Brien wrote. Read the full review here.

The New York Auto Show will also play host to the Minagi concept, which is expected to debut in production form in the coming year - possibly as a sub-CX-7 'CX-5' compact SUV.-themotorreport.com.au

Spy Shots: 2012 Nissan Tiida hatch (pronounced: "Versa") caught ahead of Shanghai reveal

Yesterday, we told you that the 2012 Nissan Versa is coming to the New York Auto Show later this month, and today we can show you exactly what its JDM counterpart will look like. Above is a completely undisguised photo of the Tiida hatchback as it sits in a parking lot in China. The hatch shares a virtually identical front end to that of the Versa sketch Nisan showed us back in October. The Tiida also shares a platform with the already in production Sunny, which shows that a sedan variant is also likely.

The spy photo shows highly stylized headlamps and a grille that is framed in chrome. The lower fascia is agape, framed by a pair of similarly large fog lamp openings. Overall styling of the Tiida appears to be a bit more conservative than competitors like the Ford Fiesta, though it's a clear improvement compared to the outgoing Versa. Another spy photo, which is available on autoincar.com, shows that the Tiida carries a Direct Injection Gas 1.6 liter turbo engine, which currently pumps out 188 horsepower under the hood of the Juke, though we'd be very surprised if the Versa gets that kind of power – a naturally aspirated 1.6 will likely be offered.

We'll see how close this spy shot of the Tiida is to the production 2012 Versa when it is unveiled in New York later this month.-autoblog.com

2012 Shelby GT500 Super Snake Release at 2011 New York Motor Show

Shelby American will unveil its new Super Snake package for the 2012 Ford Shelby GT500 at the New York International Auto Show. With 800 horsepower, it will be the most powerful American muscle car introduced at the show. In addition to the Super Snake, Shelby American will also display the limited edition 2012 Shelby GT350 coupe and convertible.

Born on the drag strip and road course of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Shelby American and its partner Ford Racing, created a suspension and engine package heavily improves the base vehicle. Even more power is available for the 2012 model year. There will be a limited production of Super Snakes available to customers starting May 1, 2011.

The complete package offers a Ford Racing handling pack including dynamic adjustable dampers, lowering springs, tuned stabilizer bars and front strut tower brace, but also an optional Shelby / Eibach handling pack, six-speed manual transmission with 3.73:1 rear axle ratio and short-throw shifter. The standard tune upgrades power to over 750hp and 590lb-ft of torque. A Borla exhaust system, Shelby-designed Alcoa 20-inch wheels in durabright or anthracite and forged Shelby / Baer brakes with six-piston calipers and cross drilled / vented rotors are also available.

The exterior design of the Super Snake includes a fiberglass hood featuring classic Shelby design and pins, Shelby signature Super Snake stripes in either matte black or matte white, “Super Snake” vehicle badges and official Shelby CSM interior plate and “Shelby” lettering across the rear deck lid.

On the inside you can get optional two tone leather interio, Shelby signature embroidered headrests, floor mats and other Shelby designed components.

The new Super Snake generates 800 horsepower on pump gas. The muscle car is legal in 50 states and swaps owner for under $ 100,000; this includes the Shelby Super Snake package and the GT500 base vehicle.-gtspirit.com

Mercedes Concept A Class (video)

Here’s our first look at the next generation Mercedes A Class which will be revealed in concept form at the upcoming Shanghai Motorshow. And the first impression is Oh My God!

Compared to the old Mercedes A Class, this three-door sporty hatchback looks fantastic. It hints at a whole new design philosophy for Mercedes small cars which are ought o be cool and trendy and sporty, exactly what the previous A and B Class weren’t! They looked like minivans to be honest.

Mercedes A Class Concept or Concept A as they call it, is inspired by design of aircrafts, or maybe spaceships, and it inherits some design cues from other Mercs as well, like the front grille which comes straight form the SLS. It also features LED lights and mesh grilles for extra sportiness. Good news is that Mercedes officials have said the production version will remain very loyal to the design of this concept.

Powering the COncept A is a M270 direct-injection four-cylinder gasoline engine developing 20 hp mated to a dual-clutch gearbox which spins front wheels. So there’s a slight worry that the car might not be just as good to drive as it looks. But we know that an AMG version is in the works with loads more power and possibly rear-wheel-drive. That’s something to look forward to.

The interior is also inspired by aircrafts covered in a transparent and stretchable fabric, garnished with red ambient lighting. It is also ban-on up to date with a 3D capable display and smartphone integration.

Look out for this car ay Auto Shanghai 2011 and also New York Auto Show.-motorward.com

Nikon adds to entry-level line of D-SLRs with new D5100

Nikon has announced the latest addition to its entry-level D-SLR lineup in the form of the new D5100. The D5100 boasts the same 23.3 x 15.6 mm CMOS sensor, 16.2-megpixel resolution and ISO range of 100–6400 (expandable to 25,600) asNikon's D7000, plus a new Night Vision mode that can shoot up to a staggering 102,400 ISO. The D5100 also sports a new 3-inch, swing out style Vari-angle LCD screen with 1000:1 contrast ratio and 921,000-dot resolution that has the ability to rotate 180 degrees horizontally and vertically.

The D5100 is also the first of Nikon's D-SLR range with the ability to apply in-camera effects to both photos and movies. Effects that can be applied by selecting the Effects position on the mode dial located on top of the camera include Selective Color, which lets users choose up to three colors in a scene so the remaining colors are converted to monochrome, and Color Sketch, which applies a sketched drawing style to photos and stop motion movies.

In addition to the low light shooting enabled by Night Vision mode, users can also capture images with improved tonal range thanks to the camera's high dynamic range (HDR) function that automatically underexposes and overexposes up to 3EV stops two consecutive shots in rapid succession. This results in images with a range of mid-tones and highlights impossible to capture in a single shot.

For a more dramatic effect, the HDR function can also be combined with Nikon's Active D-Lighting feature, which helps to keep shadows and highlights consistent in difficult lighting conditions, such as when the subject is backlit.

To allow photographers to exercise their creativity the D5100 boasts full manual controls that offer the ability to set the camera's aperture and shutter speeds. For users after a simpler way to get creative, the D5100's Picture Control system lets users switch between Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait or Landscape settings, while Scene Mode options to deal with varying light conditions include Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close-up or Night Portrait.

The ability to continuously auto-focus in movie mode that made its debut in theD3100 is also included, along with manual exposure control and the ability to quickly switch focus modes, which include the ability to track up to 35 faces, subject-tracking and normal or wide-area autofocus. Activating D-Movie mode and Live-view is also made easier thanks to the location of a new switch on the top of the camera near the shutter button.

Movies of up to 20 minutes in length can be captured in 1080p or 720p at 24 or 30 fps and are recorded in the AVC-HD H.264 codec. Clips can be trimmed and edited in camera and viewed on a HDTV using the camera's HDMI output.

For more professional audio Nikon has also released its new ME-1 stereo microphone that has been engineered specifically for D-SLR cameras. Attaching to the hot shoe and powered through the camera, it incorporates noise dampening components designed to cut down on noise from autofocus operation and a low-cut filter to reduce wind noise. With a 3.5mm stereo jack the ME-1 can also be used with any camera sporting a standard 3.5mm stereo input jack.

Nikon will release the D5100 throughout the U.S. from mid April 2011 with an estimated price tag of US$799.95 for the body only, and $899.95 for the body and the AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens. The ME-1 microphone will retail for $179.95.-gizmag.com

Lexus teases LF-Gh concept ahead of New York debut

Ahead of the New York auto show, automakers are showing a little skin, just a tease before the complete unveiling. Such is the case with Lexus and the LF-Gh, an already rumored concept for which Lexus released taillight and headlight shots.

Not to be confused with the Lexus LF-A supercar, the LF-Gh will be a hybrid grand touring sedan, Lexus says. The letters stand for Lexus Future Grand Touring Hybrid.

Lexus says this concept will show the evolution of its L-finesse styling, especially with a new look for the grille. The taillight shot shows a somewhat conventional sedan trunk lip, but a lens that trails across the rear of the car.

The front shot reveals an angular design and an aggressive-looking intake in the air dam. The grille seems to extend down the front of the car, across the bumper. LEDs make up the headlight array, with an LED parking-light strip across the lower edge.

The Lexus LF-Gh will be unveiled at the 2011 New York auto show on April 20.-reviews.cnet.com

Tesla sues BBC's Top Gear auto show over Roadster test

U.S. electric carmaker Tesla Motors Inc. sued the British Broadcasting Corp.'s "Top Gear" show alleging libel and malicious falsehood.

In papers filed at the High Court in London Tuesday, Tesla claimed the show, one of the broadcaster's most successful programs, faked a scene that appeared to show Tesla's Roadster car running out of energy.

Tesla, which has lost money every year since it was founded in 2003, is seeking to become the leader in battery-powered cars, aided by supply agreements with Toyota Motor Corp. and Daimler AG. The Palo Alto, California-based company said last month its fourth-quarter net loss widened to $51.4 million from $23.2 million a year earlier as it increased investment in the Model S, an electric sedan due in 2012.

In the report, first broadcast in December 2008, presenter Jeremy Clarkson said that, even though the car is "biblically quick," and "the first electric car you might actually want to buy," its range is limited.

"Although Tesla say it will do 200 miles, we worked out that on our track it would run out after just 55 miles and if it does run out it's not a quick job to charge it up again," Clarkson said, according to a transcript of the show included in the filing.

The report showed the car being pushed into a hanger, according to the suit by the California-based firm. Tesla said the Roadster that was pushed into the hangar hadn't run out of power and didn't need to be pushed. Top Gear's allegation that the car's range is 55 miles (about 89km) is defamatory because it suggests Tesla "grossly misled potential purchasers of the Roadster," the filing said.

"Top Gear" has a UK audience of about 6 million viewers and an international audience of 350 million, the broadcaster says. It is viewed in more than 100 countries and has been the most viewed show on BBC2 for a decade. This is the second time in less than a year the program has become involved in a High Court lawsuit.

In August, the BBC sued News Corp.'s HarperCollins to block it from disclosing the real name of the "Stig," the race driver who tested cars on the show with the visor of his helmet down to hide his identity.

"We can confirm that we have received notification that Tesla have issued proceedings against the BBC," the broadcaster said in an e-mailed statement. "The BBC stands by the program and will be vigorously defending this claim." Nigel Tait, a partner at London law firm Carter-Ruck, said in a message that he made the claim on behalf of Tesla.-autonews.com

2013 Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ Tipped as Possible NY Auto Show Debuts

With Chevy set to reveal its new 2013 Malibu, Ford is readying its family car rival. Ditching the current platform in favor of an all new global chassis, the 2013 Fusion will be sold throughout the world, combining the features of the current Fusion with the car’s overseas mid-size sister, the Mondeo.

According to a report by FordInsideNews, the new Fusion will depart dramatically from the current model in terms of styling, and one source described the car’s new style as resembling an Aston Martin!

Also sharing this new platform will be the next-generation Lincoln MKZ. Unlike in the past, Ford is hoping to further differentiate these two models, adding more content to the Lincoln. The 2012 MKZ will also be the first new model designed under the direction of new Lincoln design chief Max Wolff. Eventually all three cars will get version of Ford’s fourth-generation hybrid technology using lithium-ion batteries.

Ford hasn’t even hinted at the creation of the new Fusion or any of its derivatives, although FIN‘s sources indicate we could see either the Fusion or MKZ at the New York Auto Show in two weeks time.-autoguide.com

SPY SHOTS: WINDOWS 8 WITH A RIBBON INTERFACE?

Microsoft is experimenting with a ribbon interface for parts of Windows 8, and we have a gallery of leaked screenshots showing examples of an early build.

Microsoft Word users are already familiar with the idea of a ribbon interface, where a tabbed and extra-tall toolbar resides at the top of the page, offering dynamic groups of icons in an attempt to make the user interface more efficient. Microsoft also added the ribbon interface to a couple of applets within Windows 7, including Paint and WordPad.

We’ve already shown you leaked pics of Windows 8′s taskbar, but what we see here are experiments with Windows Explorer (for you Mac users, that’s the Windows version of the Finder), adding various groups of tabbed ribbons at the top of the window. As you’ll see in the gallery, these leaked pics, courtesy of our new pals at WithinWindows, show a UI that’s very much under construction, with most of the future icons substituted by mere placeholders so far.

We also included a bonus screenshot in the gallery, a peek at the Windows 8 login screen that was revealed on Friday and many thought was an April Fools’ Day joke. While it’s been confirmed as the real thing by a few different sites, we’re thinking its design will probably change before Windows 8 hits the streets, which we’ve heard might happen in early 2012.

None of this is too pretty yet. We’re giving this artwork the benefit of the doubt, because Windows 8 is still in its early developmental stages. But we’ve gotten used to the ribbon interface in Microsoft Office 2007, and can understand its inherent efficiency. It gives interface designers a way to place lots of controls within easy reach, rather than burying them under multiple menus.

On the other hand, with today’s wider screens, it doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense to use up even more vertical space on user interface elements.-allvoices.com