New Car: 2011 Ford C-Max

Even though Ford's small cars are going global, the European versions are breaking cover ahead of the North American versions. We've caught the five-door hatchback version of the 2011 Focus but not the four-door sedan that will be the bread-and-butter compact in North America (there will be no more two-door coupe). It's the same situation with the Focus-based C-Max multi-activity vehicle, which makes its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show September 15.

What you see pictured here is the five-passenger, European version. In North America, Ford will only sell a bigger, seven-passenger/three-row version, though the styling will be the same from the front bumper to the b-pillar.

Ford teased the C-Max with the iosis MAX concept unveiled at the Geneva show earlier this year. It employs Martin Smith's "kinetic" design that will rule the look of virtually all global Fords from midsize on down in the coming years.

Competitors in North America will include the Mazda5 and the 2012 Chevrolet Orlando. Its entry into the U.S. market also reflects Ford's belief that the C-segment, or compact size, will overtake the C/D/midsize (Fusion) segment as the predominant car size here in the coming decade. General Motors concurs with Ford on this point.

The C-Max also marks the debut of Ford's first EcoBoost four-cylinder production engine, a turbocharged 1.6-liter direct-injection unit. Other C-Max features will include semi-automatic parallel parking (as introduced in the Ford Flex/Lincoln MKT) and a blind-spot detection system.

On-sale date is late 2011 as a 2012 model, a year after the all-new Focus sedan.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

New Concept Car: Toyota Auris Hybrid

Toyota is ready to take its hybrid technology a step further in Frankfurt. Taking centre stage will be the Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept. A milestone in Toyota's long-term hybrid strategy, it represents the first step in introducing Hybrid Synergy Drive from the Prius into a mainstream model - and eventually across the entire range.

Alongside the Auris will be the latest Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept. Allowing pure electric operation with a petrol engine only needed to top up the batteries, it offers significant advantages over the current car. And they willl be hitting UK roads as early as next year, when over 150 units will be leased to selected fleet customers.

Two customised show cars - the IQ for Sports (essentially a rebadged Scion IQ Concept first seen at the 2009 New York Motor Show) and the IQ Collection, featuring a panoramic glass roof and cow-print interior trim, will also be unveiled at the show. For more details click here.

Thanks to: Auto Express

Hot News: Lamborghini Murcielago

Meet the next ultimate Lambo!

These pictures give us the best look yet at how the raging bull of the future will shape up – and it’s set to eclipse the existing Murciélago in every way.

The car has yet to be given a name, but it’s expected to combine Lamborghini owner Audi’s aluminium spaceframe chassis with a carbon fibre bodyshell.

That will make it much lighter than the Murciélago it replaces – and guarantees stunning performance to go with the incredible looks.

Up front is a pronounced spoiler and fresh headlamps – but designers have reserved the biggest changes for the rear. They have moved the Murciélago’s trademark angular exhaust closer to the ground, while new strip-like LED tail-lights replace the current square units.

Power is expected to come from a 6.0-litre V12 with around 700bhp – that would propel the car from 0-60mph in just over three seconds.

The new Lambo will also be wider and longer, while four-wheel drive ensures it’s firmly planted on the road.

Preliminary prototypes have been spied near Germany’s Nürburgring track, but the car is unlikely to arrive before 2012.

The newcomer will also pave the way for future generations of hybrid Lambos.

It will be the brand’s first car to use efficient technologies such as stop-start and energy regeneration, and is a major step towards bosses’ plans to deliver the first-ever Lamborghini hybrid by 2015. For more details click here.

Thanks to: Auto Express

New Concept Car: Mercedes BlueZero E-Cell Plus

If you can't afford the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid or the rumored four-cylinder S-Class but still want to go green, you might soon be able to drive a Benz employing technology from the BlueZero E-Cell Plus concept we saw at the last Detroit auto show.

The electric motor of the battery-powered car is paired with a 67-hp turbo three-cylinder gas engine that charges the battery when necessary. Driven carefully, the concept has a 373-mile range. About 62 of those miles, Mercedes says, can be driven using just electric power.

Important for everyday use, the lithium ion battery can travel those 62 miles after a charge lasting "somewhat more than an hour" with a charging capacity of 20 kW, Mercedes claims. For less powerful outlets, it will take about 6 hours to get a full charge.

The vehicle isn't especially slow: 0-62 mph is accomplished in less than 11 seconds as the BlueZero E-Cell Plus heads toward its 93 mph top speed. A maximum of 236 lb-ft of torque is available from 0 rpm. Like the BlueZero E-Cell and BlueZero F-Cell, this environmentally friendly Benz is built on one vehicle architecture and places all its extra powertrain technology in the underbody (the so-called sandwich-floor architecture), helping the BlueZero models hold at least 17.7 cu-ft of cargo. All three BlueZero models are 166.1 in. long.

This year, Mercedes is planning on making its first few fuel cell vehicles; next year the automaker expects to make a small batch of battery-electric vehicles.
Thanks to: Motor Trend

New Car: 2010 Porsche 911 Sport Classic

Porsche is giving some fan service. The 911 Sport Classic, pictured above, is a look back to simpler times, featuring a straightforward drivetrain and high-quality execution. After three years of development by Porsche Exclusive, the automaker's personalization wing, the Sport Classic coupe will debut next to the 2010 911 Turbo, GT3 RS and GT3 Cup race car at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Unique to the Sport Classic are a double-dome roof, lower fascia and lip, and a fixed ducktail spoiler. Though based on the Carrera S, the Sport Classic uses the wider 4S body. Underneath the fenders are black 19-in. wheels. The interior gets the bespoke treatment, too, with the adaptive sports seats wearing woven leather and a light grey trim. Custom trim highlights the dashboard, which boasts Espresso Nature natural leather.

Porsche's venerable 3.8L flat-six provides propulsion with 408-hp, which is a 23-hp improvement over stock, thanks to a new intake manifold. The engine connects to a six-speed manual -- the only choice. (What, did you think they had dual-clutch gearboxes in 1972?) Ceramic brakes are standard, as is the sports suspension and a mechanical limited-slip differential.

Like it? Too bad. It's not available in North America. World sales begin in January. Each of the 250 examples carry an MSRP of €169,300 ($240,760).
Thanks to: Motor Trend

New Car: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

Honda fans, your Accord wagon is almost here. Honda has dropped the first official photos and details of its 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour, which the automaker is billing as crossover-like vehicle with a "sleek and aerodynamic shape that blends sporty, low-profile contours with versatile CUV functionality." In other words, it’s an Accord wagon they don’t want to call a wagon.

The Crosstour is not surprisingly built off of the Accord platform, with exterior differences including a bigger and bolder four-slat front grille, wedge-shaped C-pillars, and a sloped rear that ends with the Crosstour’s large rear hatch area. Honda is billing the hatch and cargo area as offering more versatility than the sedan -- pretty much the main reason for its existence.

Of course, it will have a higher ride height, more ground clearance, etc. All the buzz words you hear when discussing a crossover. Expect the Crosstour -- which is being positioned at the top of the Accord range -- to come with Honda’s 3.5-liter V-6 and AWD when it hits Honda dealers in the next few months.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Hot News: Alfa Romeo to Build SUV Based on Jeep Grand Cherokee

Fiat appears interested in making the most of Chrysler’s paltry product dowry by using one of the Pentastar’s promising future products, the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, as the basis for a new Alfa Romeo SUV. Although at this point our inside sources remain little birdies and voices telegraphed via cups on a string, the notion of an Alfa SUV makes some sense for a brand not satisfied with its current share of the European market, and with designs on returning to North America.

Actually, the pump has been primed for an Alfa ute in Europe for years. Not only are Europeans familiar with the Grand Cherokee, which has been sold there for some time with both gas and diesel engines, but Alfa’s product planners can also study Grand Cherokee customers’ buying patterns to get a step ahead in developing powertrain and equipment packages. The Alfa likely would be offered in Europe with Chrysler’s new 280-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 engine, as well as a diesel or two. Given the carbon-obsessed EU regulatory structure, the Hemi V-8 is unlikely to be found under the Alfa’s hood. It is also unlikely that the Alfa would offer the full spectrum of the Jeep’s whiz-bang off-road features; rather, we would expect it to be better suited to on-road performance so as to take on the BMW X5, VW Touareg, and Mercedes-Benz ML (the latter, incidentally, provides a good portion the 2011 Grand Cherokee’s underpinnings).

As for its U.S. prospects, we think it would play a key role in fleshing out a full Alfa Romeo product portfolio here if and when the Italian automaker makes more of an effort to get involved in the U.S. market than merely dropping off a handful of quarter-million-dollar 8C Competiziones to a few (very lucky) aristocrats.

This rendering is proof that not all forms of fabulosity are scalable, at least according to some folks around the C/D offices, who think the Grand Cherokee looks positively sexy in comparison. Others actually like the Alfa’s looks. But before arguments erupt as to this potential model’s styling, it must be remembered that our unofficial drawing is based on speculative information as opposed to verified information from Alfa. However, should the company apply the same sort of design that works beautifully on cars as varied as its MiTo subcompact and the scrumptious 8C, this could be a close predictor of the final product.

While the styling elicits controversy among our staff, we’re universally displeased with the proposed name: CXover/A. It doesn’t quite have the same sexy ring as Competizione, Brera, Milano, or Giulia, does it? Really, how does one say “C-X-Over-Slash-A” in Italian?

Thanks to: Car and Driver