Hyundai Elantra Coupe First Look

This is how the 2011 Hyundai Elantra coupe, to be unveiled at this year’s Los AngelesAuto Show, would look like.

Rivaling cars Like Kia Forte (Cerato) Koup and Honda Civic Coupe, the Elantra Coupe not only looks almost exactly like the sedan, it’ll also get the same 1.8 liter 148 hp engine. That’s not a very gutsy powertrain, but it does 40mpg highway and almost 30 mpg in city driving which is very impressive.

It would be nice if Hyundai takes the same approach to coupes as Kia did with the Forte Koup, and set the Elantra Coupe apart from its sedan sibling by adding more sportiness, more drama to the way it looks. Kia has done that, both inside and out, with great results. Or maybe they have saved it for the R-Spec version of the car, which is due in 2012 with a more powerful engine and hopefully sportier styling. That said, the finished product at the LA Show could be different than the rendering here.

So this would be a cheaper alternative for the Genesis Coupe and a serious threat for its sister from Kia.-motorward.com

Toyota EZ MPV to launch on June 21st

Guangzhou Toyota are planning to launch the EZ MPV in the Chinese market on June 21st according to media reports, the compact MPV will targeted against other family use MPV’s such as the Mazda 5 and the highly popular VW Touran. June 21st will see the launch party happening in Beijing, but the car will not be in dealers until early July, three different engine offerings will be available with a lowly 1.6L starting, a 1.8L in the middle and a 2.0L top of the range model. The EZ had its first airing at theGuangzhou Auto Show in December 2010 and again in Shanghai in April this year, it seems that Toyota are not going to be promoting this vehicle as a traditional MPV but will instead be calling it a FUV which according to Toyota meansFashionable Utility Vehicle.-chinacartimes.com

BMW Releases New 1-Series Early After Photos Leaked

After photos leaked onto the web late last week of the new 2012 BMW 1-Series, BMW has apparently opted to forgo the big launch they’d planned for the Frankfurt Motor Show and has since released all the details and specs of the new car now, to avoid speculation. 

So, what awaits would-be 1-Series buyers? Well, a bigger car, for one. 

Based upon the 3-Series platform, the new 1-Series will grow significantly in every dimension except vertically. A move that will assuredly ostracize some enthusiasts, the growth is a response to the next 3-Series’ also-expanded footprint leaving more room for a bigger 1-Series than previously possible, with most of the expanded capacity coming in the form of a larger cabin and cargo area. Both areas in which the current 1-Series earned much criticism, the new, roomier 1er should assuage many that thought it simply too small to be practical.

And of course, there will be new sheetmetal as well. Although definitely still looking very much like a 1-series, the new model has an even more upright grille flanked by even larger headlights; making what was already a slightly cartoonish car look even more so. Interestingly, while additional variants (read: a coupe) are slated to follow, only the über-practical five-door hatchback layout will be made available from the outset. 

Further evidence of BMW’s move towards practicality will be found underhood, where the absence of the turbocharged inline six will definitely be felt by sporting drivers. Instead, a lineup consisting entirely of four cylinders ranging from 136 to 245 horsepower will be available to North American drivers, with overseas markets benefitting from the additional fitment of three diesel engines.-carguideweb.com

Sony reveals pricing and new name for next-gen handheld: the PlayStation Vita (video)

At its E3 press conference Sony finally revealed that its next generation handheld - previously codenamed the NGP - will carry the official moniker of the "PlayStation Vita". Most of the details of the Vita - which is Latin for "life" - have already been revealed, leaving the price and name as the only real new information, along with the announcement of some of the upcoming titles heading to the device when it is released from the end of the year.

The PS Vita will come in two flavors: a Wi-Fi only version and a 3G/Wi-Fi version. The Wi-Fi only version will be priced at $249 in the U.S., JPY24,980 in Japan, and EUR249 in Europe, while the 3G/Wi-Fi model will go for US$299, JPY29,980 and EUR299. Sony says it the Vita will have a successive global launch starting from the end of 2011.

Titles from SCE Worldwide studios heading to the Vita include, "GRAVITY DAZE," "Uncharted Golden Abyss," "Little Deviants," "Hot Shots Golf," "Reality Fighter," "Hustle Kings," "ModNation Racers," "Wipeout 2048" and "Super Stardust Delta".

A pre-installed "near" application will enable location-based gaming features and let PS Vita users share game information with each other, while a newly developed "Party" application will provide social networking features via voice and text chat, both during online gaming or when using different games and applications.-gizmag.com

Sony Playstation Vita specs:

• ARM Cortex A9 core (4 core) CPU
• SGX543MP4+ GPU
• 5" OLED touchscreen (16:9, 960 x 544)
• 5" rear touch pad
• Two analog joysticks
• Front and rear cameras
• 3G, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and GPS
• Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer), Three-axis electronic compass
• Built in GPS (3G/Wi-Fi model only)
• PS Vita card slot
• Memory card slot
• SIM card slot (3G/Wi-Fi model only)
• Multi-use port (for USB data communication, DC IN, Audio [Stereo Out / Mono In], Serial data communication)
• Headset jack

Mazda to Debut 2012 BT-50 Freestyle Cab At Australian International Motor Show

The Australian International Motor Show kicks off from July 1 in Melbourne and will be the platform for the premiere of the new Freestyle Cab version of the Mazda BT-50 pickup. This will be second time the Japanese automaker has chosen the Australian soil for the global debut of one of their models. Previously, the automaker made a global premiere of the BT-50 in Sydney in 2010.

This pick up features a reverse swinging door model, which was implemented in the Mazda RX8 for the first time. The advanced non-existent B-pillar design incorporates an exceptionally wide pillar-less door opening in the model, thus providing the versatility of four doors with an increased sense of cabin space. The front hinged door and a rear access panel provide an impressive door-opening of 1.4 m for easy entry and exit from the cabin. This design has been implemented in this pick-up keeping the Australian market in mind.

The comfort of the rear seat passengers is also increased in this model. With more cabin space, the automaker has increased the dimensions of the rear seats. The rear seats have been lengthened by 50 mm to increase the thigh support and the height is also increased by 128 mm. Moreover, the rear seat cushions can be removed and with 90 degree opening of the rear access panel, the cargo storing in the rear seats will be much easier in this model. The overall cargo carrying capacity of tub is also increased by 266 liters than the current model, hence providing a total cargo volume of 1453 liters.-nitrobahn.com