Perfect Balance. Perfect Performance.

Porsche 918 Spyder and 911 Turbo S Edition 918 Spyder

0–60 mph in 3.1 seconds, 199-mph top speed and will run Nürburgring in under 7 minutes, 30 seconds? The Porsche hybrid you really want.

With so much anticipation built up around the 918 concept cars—wantonly brandishing the Spyder and RSR race trim in the show circuit—Porsche would have been borderline unscrupulous not to bring the sexy hybrid into production. As it turns out, Porsche will build the supercar in its Spyder trim, carbon fiber-reinforced plastic monocoque and all. Except for the presence of a new roof (manually operated with removable panels that can be stowed in the front luggage compartment.

But before you rush to put down a deposit, the 918 Spyder is a bit more expensive than a 911. Listed at $845,000, it’s the equivalent of four and an eighth 911 Speedsters. But don’t let the numbers deter you, there’s so much more than fuzzy math to the 918. Take, for instance, its output. With a maximum estimated at 718 hp, it comes courtesy of a midship 500-bhp V-8 and two electric motors both good for 218 hp. Mounted on the front and rear axles, the electric motors act independently and endow the 918 with variable all-wheel drive.

Hybrid Powertrain, Supercar Performance

Fitted with a 7-speed twin-clutch gearbox, the 918 Spyder has some lofty performance targets: 0–60 mph in 3.1 seconds, a 199-mph top speed and the Nürburgring in under 7 minutes, 30 seconds—that’s 2 sec. quicker than the Carrera GT. And don’t forget, these numbers are for a plug-in hybrid. Porsche is throwing out efficiency figures of 94 mpg and 16 miles of range solely on its lithium-ion batteries.

Limited to 918 units, production for the 918 Spyder doesn’t start until September 18, 2013. Think 2013 holidays, if you’re well behaved. For the impatient types, there’s the 918 Spyder-edition 911 to hold you over.

911 Turbo S Edition 918 Spyder

If you can’t wait until late 2013, Porsche is placating buyers of the 918 Spyder by offering them an exclusive opportunity to purchase an “Edition 918 Spyder” 911. Based on the 530-bhp 911 Turbo S, the special-edition Porsche has carbon-fiber trim inside and out, plus upgraded leather, badging and the exterior colors of the 918, including the use of Acid Green on the brake calipers, illuminated sill plates, interior stitching and instrument cluster needles. Also limited to 918 units, the 911 Turbo S Edition 918 Spyder will be available in Coupe ($160,700) and Cabriolet ($172,100) forms, making this one very expensive dealer option.

2012 SUV Crossovers

2012 Nissan Juke
$19,770 MSRP
29 MPG
$1,904 annual fuel cost

Outside of the hybrid SUVs, even the smaller crossovers running on gasoline can't crack 30 MPG. The leader in the pack is the Nissan Juke, which some consider a hatchback. Behind it, in the 26-27 MPG range are the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport ($22,345), the newly redesigned 2012 Honda CR-V (appxox $22,000) and the 2012 Hyundai Tucson ($19,045).

2012 Luxury Hybrid Cars

2012 Lexus CT 200h
$29,120 MSRP
42 MPG
$1,221 annual fuel cost

The choices for hybrid drivers have recently grown, with the addition of luxury sedans. The Lexus CT 200h leads the (small) pack for both fuel efficiency and price. The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid ($34,755) isn't far behind at 39 MPG.

2012 Hybrid Cars for Families

2012 Toyota Prius
$23,520 MSRP
50 MPG
$1,026 annual fuel cost

For a relatively roomy family sedan, the venerable Prius still leads the pack, with the best fuel economy outside of the electric cars. (In 2012 Toyota offers a plug-in option to mixed reviews.)

Other hybrid cars in the category include the the 42-MPG Honda Insight ($18,350), the 41-MPG Toyota Camry Hybrid ($25,900) and the 39-MPG Ford Fusion Hybrid ($28,700).

2012 Electric Cars

2012 Mitsubishi i (MiEV)

$29,125 MSRP
112 MPG-equivalent
$540 annual fuel cost

Electric cars are still very much a niche category, but a growing one, with the addition of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV to the fleet that was born last year. For shorter trips, or folks who can charge up at work, electric cars are a great option, and federal tax incentives will knock up to $7,500 off the purchase price (check for state incentives, too). Among 2012 electric cars, the new i-MiEV leads the pack both for fuel-efficiency and cost, and ranks as the most fuel-efficient car of the year.

It's a little thing though, so if you're in the market for an electric car with more room than a sub-compact offers, try the Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid that ranks as a compact ($39,145; 94 MPG for electric, 37 MPG for gas), or the Nissan Leaf, an all-electric vehicle that sneaks into the midsize category ($35,200; 99 MPG-equivalent). If you're looking for an electric car that's even smaller, try the Smart Fortwo, a two-seater expected to hit showrooms soon.

2013 BMW M6 Convertible

With almost one month before its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show, BMW has unveiled the first details on the first generation M6. The Convertible version will be the first to arrive on the US market, with sale to begin in June 2012.

The new generation M6 Convertible will be distinguished by a more powerful and sportier appearance, thanks to its special M design cues elements: a newly designed M kidney grille featuring an "M6" badge, larger air dam and lower bumper and a new set of 19-inch M light-alloy wheels. The interior gets a newly developed M sports seats, Merino extended leather upholstery, door sills with "M6" lettering, an M driver’s footrest and exclusive carbon fiber interior trim. The car’s roof is made from natural color Carbon Fiber Composite and comes painted ina dark color. It can be operated at speeds of up to 25 mph and takes 19 seconds to open and 24 seconds to close again.

In terms of power, BMW has opted to transfer the turbocharged 4.4 liter V8 - first used in the M5 - over to the M6. This engine will deliver a total of 560 HP (a 5 HP over the previous generation) and a peak torque of 500 lbs-ft. The engine will be mated to a a newly developed 7-speed double-clutch transmission and will sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, while top speed is limited to 155 mph.

Aston Martin V12 Zagato – production car images out

The first images of Aston Martin’s production V12 Zagato, which is scheduled to enter the market in the fourth quarter this year, have been released. The car – of which only 150 examples will be built – will make its first European appearance in Geneva.

Last May saw the V12 Zagato make its world debut at the prestigious Villa d’Este concours, and with consumer demand the decision was made to build a strictly limited run of cars.

Each Zagato, constructed from a combination of hand crafted aluminium and carbon fibre, will take approximately 2,000 man-hours to complete. Four unique colours have been created for the car, these being Scintilla Silver, Alloro Green, Alba Blue and Diavolo Red.

Inside, the car will feature Seven Bridge of Weir hides in a semi-aniline finish to offer durability while
preserving the natural texture of the leather as trim material. Workmanship details will include hand-stitched quilting of a unique design to create a flowing pattern across the seats and headlining as well as ‘Z’ embroidery in the headrests and rear parcel shelf.

Elsewhere, the dashboard and centre stack wears satin-finish carbon fibre, with piano black accents and satin black rotary switchgear and carbon fibre sill plaques, with a ‘V12 Zagato’ inlaid metal script providing a distinctive finishing touch.

Bentley Continental GT V8 flies through the skies of Munich

Bentley showed off its new V8 Continental GT in Munich on Wednesday, picking up its luxury coupe with a Skycrane helicopter and dropping it off at SkyLounge, an exclusive space for events that is perched between two buildings in the city's downtown. The launch party included 300 VIP guests.

“A dramatic car got the debut we felt it deserved, and we took a little bit of our inspiration from Bentley's iconic ‘Winged B' emblem,” said Klaus Becker, general manager of Bentley Munich, who organized the helicopter lift. “On a practical level, the helicopter was the fastest way to get to the rooftop podium.”

The new Bentley Continental GT V8 made its North American debut at the Detroit auto show in January, where the company showed off its new twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 that gets 40 percent better fuel economy than the W12 engine. The “smaller” engine makes 500 hp and 487 lb-ft of torque, while the tried-and-true 6.0-liter W12 still makes a strong 567 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard with Bentley's new V8.

2013 Mazda CX-5 crossover prices set

Mazda on Monday released the prices of the 2013 CX-5.

The CX-5 carries a base price of $21,490, including the $795 destination fee. Alaska residents pay an additional $45 in destination fees.

Standard equipment includes cloth seating, push-button start, power windows and mirrors, telescoping steering and a USB connection for the audio system.

The CX-5 Touring model carries a sticker price of $24,690 for the front-drive version or $25,940 for all-wheel drive.

A Bluetooth audio package that has a 5.8-inch in-dash touch-screen system and HD radio technology adds $400 to the sticker.

Options include a moonroof, a Bose audio package and a technology package.

The CX-5 Grand Touring model stickers at $27,840 for front-wheel drive and $29,090 for all-wheel drive.

The CX-5 arrives in dealerships this month.

BMW unveils Super Bowl spots, digital shorts

According to said Dan Creed, Vice President of Marketing, BMW of North America, "The BMW 3 Series is the global benchmark for a sports sedan. With these shorts, we turn a spotlight on the innovations that make the 3 Series the standard to which others aspire."

Funny, we always thought the 3's sterling reputation lay squarely on its continually-stellar dynamics and excellent powertrains. Despite the fact that the tagline, “We only make one thing, the Ultimate Driving Machine” is repeated at the end of each of these six digital shorts, only one of them actually shows the car in motion--the one to be broadcast in the Los Angeles area during the Super Bowl. It's featured above.

The spot immediately below, airing in the more frigid climes of the NYC market, highlights the car's available heated steering wheel, while the other four will be popping up on sites like Hulu, CBS.com and ABC.com. Are the clips further proof that BMW's lost the plot and moved away from its core mission, as many have alleged recently? Or are touting the car's ancillary benefits in a cutesy manner a valid way to bring some into the fold who may not have previously considered the brand?

Chevrolet Super Bowl ad takes a stab at Ford

Chevrolet released its latest Super Bowl ad on Friday.

Featuring a postapocalyptic world with plenty of computer-generated imagery and chaos, out of the rubble pulls the new Silverado looking no worse for wear, other than a fine coat of dust.

As Barry Manilow's “Looks Like We Made It” plays on, the driver and his dog meet with a small collective of other Chevrolet pickup drivers.

Wondering where their lost companion Dave is, a survivor explains that “Dave didn't drive the longest-lasting, most dependable truck on the road. Dave drove a Ford.”

The legal department made sure to include the small text at the bottom of the screen: “Dependability based on longevity: 1981-July 2011 full-size pickup registrations.”

Sam Foose-built Alfa Romeo Carabo clone for sale - Autoweek

Sam Foose-built Alfa Romeo Carabo clone for sale - Autoweek

A first look at the Audi TT RS plus

By: Greg Kable on 2/09/2012

Audi is taking aim at the new Porsche Boxster and its yet-to-be-revealed sister model, the upcoming second-generation Cayman, with a spectacular 174-mph version of the TT RS, pictured here officially for the first time.

Called the TT RS plus, the powered-up coupe and roadster pairing is set to join what is shaping up as a formidable display of new Audi models--including the third-generation A3 and the RS4 Avant--at the Geneva motor show in early March.

The centerpiece of the new range-topping TT is a tuned version of Audi's turbocharged 2.5-liter, five-cylinder direct-injection gasoline engine as used by the go-fast TT RS, the RS3 Sportback and the limited-production A1 quattro.

Mounted transversely over the front wheels in a showcase-lacquered, carbon-fiber-trimmed engine bay unique to the new car, the four-valve-per-cylinder engine delivers 20 hp and 11 lb-ft of torque more than the standard tune. The result is 355 hp and 343 lb-ft of torque, 44 hp and 78 lb-ft more than the new Boxster S's naturally aspirated 3.4-liter, horizontally opposed six-cylinder.

Among the changes brought to the compact powerplant, known internally under the code name EA855, is a revised intake manifold and added turbocharger boost pressure. Together they provide the 3,196-pound TT RS plus coupe with a power-to-weight ratio of 244 hp/ton, with the 3,334-pound TT RS plus roadster coming in at 235 hp/ton.

Engineers at Audi's quattro division headquarters based in Neckarsulm, Germany, also gave the TT RS plus an exhaust-system flap that opens during generous application of the throttle for added aural effect.

As with the TT RS, drive is channeled through a standard six-speed manual gearbox to all four wheels via a Haldex-style multiplate clutch. A seven-speed dual-clutch S-tronic gearbox featuring a launch-control function that matches revs to prevailing grip levels for optimal getaways is available as an option.

So equipped, Audi says the TT RS plus coupe will storm from standstill to 62 mph in just 4.1 seconds, with the slightly heavier roadster taking 4.2 seconds. In manual form, the cars require an additional 0.2 second, respectively, according to Ingolstadt's official performance figures.

Top speed in both cases is limited to 174 mph, up 19 mph over the standard TT RS, which is limited to 155 mph. The gain in performance is achieved without any dramatic effect on fuel consumption, which Audi puts at 27.6 mpg for the coupe and 27.4 mpg for the roadster.

By comparison, the new mid-engine/rear-wheel-drive Boxster S, which is also set to make its world premiere at the Geneva motor show, reaches 62 mph in a claimed 5.0 seconds, tops out at 169 mph and returns a combined 29.0 mpg.

Along with the TT RS plus's engine upgrade is a revised version of the standard TT RS's firm-riding MacPherson strut (front) and multilink (rear) chassis, complete with sinister-looking black-and-red painted 19-inch alloy wheels shod with 255/35 tires all round. Buyers can specify an optional adaptive damping system that uses magnetically actuated dampers to vary the firmness as part of Audi's Drive Select system. The standard brake package is retained, with four-piston calipers and cross-drilled steel discs up front.

A series of exterior styling changes help distinguish the TT RS plus. Together with the new wheel and tire package, they include a new grille that uses a high-gloss anthracite-colored, diamond-pattern plastic insert and a matte-aluminum-look plastic frame. The exterior mirrors were altered, with new carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic housings, while the sizeable tailpipes at the rear get black oval trims. As a finishing touch, there's also a redesigned fixed wing for added downforce and stability at speed.

Set to head into production in April, the TT RS plus is the latest product of Audi's increasingly active quattro division, which now oversees a growing lineup of performance models, including the company's new RS4 Avant. European sales begin in May.

Details relating to North American sales have yet to be revealed. In Germany, the TT RS is priced at €60,650 ($80,580) for the coupe and €63,500 ($84,367) for the roadster, with the optional seven-speed dual-clutch S-tronic gearbox adding €2,150 ($2,856) in each case.