Renaultsport Technologies is expanding its range of rally cars with the introduction of Twingo Renaultsport R2 and Twingo Renaultsport R1. Designed for drivers looking for a modern, affordable and reliable rally car, these two next generation products make up the entry-level of a comprehensive range of competition cars that also includes the Clio Renaultsport R3 Access and Maxi.

In addition to its success in world’s top motorsport events, Renaulsport’s history also belongs to the models that have enabled entire generations of drivers to pursue their passion for the sport. In the same spirit as cars such as the R8 Gordini, the 5 GT Turbo and the group N Clio Renaultsport Williams, the Twingo Renaultsport R2 becomes the latest affordable sports model aimed at aspiring professional drivers.

The specifically-prepared 4-cylinder 1.6-litre16V engine develops 160hp (118kW) at 7,250rpm - an extra 27hp compared to the production engine. Combined with a five-speed ‘dog’ sequential gearbox and steering column mounted shift lever, the engine generates a maximum torque of 160Nm at 5,500rpm, giving it a wide power band.

With snow, sleet, freezing fog, black ice, temperatures hovering around zero and severe frosts, the drivers of Mercedes models equipped with the 4MATIC permanent all-wheel-drive system can set off for the daily commute to work. This is because the 4MATIC drive concept boasts formidable performance on snow-covered or icy roads. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4MATIC in particular stands out for its blend of high traction reserves, excellent directional stability, peerless safety and exceptional comfort levels. Mercedes-Benz is demonstrating the capa-bilities of the Saloon and Estate models by staging a 4MATIC Workshop in extreme winter conditions on the Timmelsjoch high alpine road in Austria.

GeigerCars.de, a German tuner specialized in North American cars, has launched an upgrade program for the Cadillac CTS-V.

The tuner has placed under the hood a 6.2 liters V8 with compressor that delivers a total of 619 HP at 5900 rpm and a peak torque of 850 Nm at 4000 rpm. In this was the top speed has been raised to 205 mph.

The GeigerCars Cadillac CTS-V price is €84,900.00, which is €10,500 more than the standard car.

Volkswagen has unveiled the Final Editions of the New Beetle and the New Beetle convertible at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The Final Editions will be limited to only 1,500 units each. The Final Editions come in special Aquarius Blue paint with a painted black roof on the coupe, and a two-tone Aquarius Blue and Campanella White paint scheme with a white top on the convertible.

Under the hood of both models is Volkswagen’s 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder gasoline engine, with its ready-to-go 150 horsepower, and 170 lbs.-ft. of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic® puts the power to the pavement, and can change gears on its own, or let the driver select each gear by tapping the selector up or down. With the automatic transmission, the New Beetle can achieve an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city, and 29 mpg on the highway.

The 2010 New Beetle Coupe and New Beetle Convertible Final Editions will be available for $20,240 and $27,170 respectively.

Scion unveiled the 2010 Scion xB Release Series 7.0 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The show car, painted in a special purple tone called "Murasaki," is one of only 2,000 limited editions being built.

2010 Scion xB Release Series 7.0 has a four-piece DAMD body kit that includes front and rear lower lips along with side skirts and an optional rear spoiler. The xB RS 7.0 also has a sport exhaust system with twin double-walled tips. Bringing down the car by more than an inch is the presence of TRD lowering springs, emphasizing the car’s stance and handling.

The 2010 Scion xB Release Series 7.0 model will carry a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $18,320 with a manual transmission, and $19,270 with an automatic transmission

Ford Fiesta ECOnetic powered 90PS 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi produces 10 per cent less CO2 than the already impressive mainstream TDCi unit and is matched to aerodynamic improvements to deliver just 98g/km CO2 and a Combined 76.3mpg. Steve Kimber, commercial director at Ford in Britain, says that he expects to sell 2,500 Fiesta Vans a year with a price tag of £11,635.

To the backdrop of the UN Climate Change Conference, Renault has decided to make a number of electric vehicle prototypes available to accredited attendees with for test drive purposes (previous appointment must be made). These prototypes preview the upcoming: Renault Fluence Z.E., and Renault Kangoo Express Z.E.

Toyota introduced the redesigned 2011 Sienna minivan at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The Toyota Sienna is well known as a transportation solution for moving people and cargo comfortably and efficiently.

A choice of two responsive DOHC engines will be available: a 3.5-liter V6 or 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine.  Both engines offer the latest in efficient, lightweight technology, including Dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), roller rocker arms and an Acoustically Controlled Induction System (ACIS) that changes the length of the air-intake pipe to supply more torque on demand.

Kia Motors America (KMA) announced the official North American debut of the all-new Sorento crossover utility vehicle (CUV) during a press conference at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. Kia Sorento CUV 2011 is the first vehicle to be built at the all-new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) in West Point, Georgia. Sorento encompasses both the brand’s signature design cues as well as its distinct combination of value, safety and style. Coming to market in early 2010 as a 2011 model-year vehicle, the all-new Sorento presents consumers with a well-equipped, well-appointed CUV with best-in-class power² suited perfectly for the fun, dynamic and discerning driver. A 3.5-liter V6 providing best-in-class 276 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque and a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 175 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque both are coupled to a new six-speed automatic transmission, which together provide ample power and offer improved fuel efficiency. This all-new six-speed automatic transmission is a proprietary design for Kia Motors that was designed, engineered and built specifically for Kia vehicles, making the brand one of only three manufacturers to employ such a transmission.

Mazda will showcase the Mazda2 (known as Mazda Demio in Japan) at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. The globally-acclaimed Mazda2 brings a level of style and driving dynamics to the North American subcompact segment that no other competitor can offer. The vehicle will be sold in the U.S. and Canada beginning in late 2010. Astylish, eco-friendly, fun-to-drive five-door hatchback, the MAZDA2 is Zoom-Zoom in its mostconcentrated form – compact and efficient, yet packed with style and substance. It will launch into the North American market in late summer, 2010.

MAZDA2 is the latest in a line of stylish, insightful and hugely fun-to-drive small cars from Mazda, and will bring an all-new level of refinement to the segment, as MAZDA3 did for the compact C-Car market. MAZDA2 is a car that only the engineers at Mazda could have created. Notably, the MAZDA2 was selected as the “2008 World Car of the Year” (WCOTY) at the 2008

The new standard for midsize sedans is the 2011 SONATA. Hyundai introduced its all-new 2011 Sonata at the Los Angeles Auto Show. This marks the North American debut of the latest version of the popular midsize sedan, introducing Hyundai’s “Fluidic Sculpture” design language and an all four-cylinder engine lineup to the U.S. market.The 2011 Hyundai Sonata represents a modern approach to the traditional midsize sedan segment by using only advanced four-cylinder engines, emotional design and luxury features offered with Hyundai’s strong value proposition.

Sonata is the second vehicle in Hyundai’s 24/7 version 2.0 product initiative (seven new models in the next 24 months) following on the heels of the all-new Tucson. Production of Sonata will begin later this month at Hyundai’s U.S. plant in Alabama with retail sales beginning in January.

In 2010, a revolutionary new Tucson joins the rapidly evolving Hyundai product line. The sleek crossover from Hyundai, with its athletic European design, strikes a stark contrast from its predecessor and improves in every functional area, from its roomier cabin with extra cargo space to its leap in fuel economy and technology. Hyundai Tucson features the company’s “Fluidic Sculpture” design language and is the first vehicle in Hyundai’s 24/7 version 2.0 product initiative (seven all-new models by the end of 2011).

The all-new Tucson is the first Hyundai CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle) to be designed and engineered in Europe at Hyundai’s Frankfurt-based design and technical centers. It features precedent-setting engineering including advanced weight saving technology and the eco-efficient Theta II 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine delivering up to 31 mpg on the highway. True to Hyundai form, the Tucson applies life-saving safety technologies as standard equipment while offering, for the first time, Downhill Brake Control (DBC) and Hillstart Assist Control (HAC). Likewise, to keep its passengers informed and comfortable Tucson integrates Hyundai’s first panoramic sunroof, touch-screen navigation and a Bluetooth^® hands-free phone system.   

2011 Mitsubishi RVR, an all-new compact crossover, is planned for sequential release globally, and will be first released in Japan next spring. The all-new RVR is a compact crossover that provides high environmental efficiency and has a compact body while providing ample utility space and high performance.

The RVR will be fitted with an all-new 1.8L MIVEC petrol engine, and will be approximately 4.3 meters in length, featuring high fuel efficiency via its lightweight compact body. With the RVR, Mitsubhishi expands its crossover lineup, which already includes the full-size Pajero, and the mid-size Outlander.

This new compact crossover will be released globally, including North America, Europe, and Asian regions including China.

Built in Britain and better than ever – the Nissan Qashqai is being revised for 2010. Nissan’s mid-size crossover model will undergo an extensive update in the spring of 2010 to cement its position as the class-leading, pioneering alternative to the traditional hatchback.

Life on board the Qashqai has been made even more comfortable thanks to improved protection against noise, vibration and harshness. This has been achieved by adding an all-new multi-layer insulation material around the front bulkhead, as well as the fitment of an ‘acoustic’ windscreen which reduces the transmission of noise. One of the most significant changes to the Qashqai range is the addition of a new Pure Drive variant. Wearing the badge reserved only for the Nissan models with the most environmentally efficient economy and emissions, this special Qashqai produces only 129g/km of CO₂.

Ferrari 458 Italia receives the Prestigious BBC Top GEAR Magazine " CAR OF THE YEAR" and " SUPERCAR OF THE YEAR" awards for the year 2009.

Infiniti unveiled the 2011 Infiniti M to the public at the 2009 Los Angeles Motor Show. The all-new 2011 Infiniti M37 and Infiniti M56 will go on sale across North America beginning in spring 2010.

Using a 3.7-liter, aluminum-alloy DOHC V6 engine, the M37 receives 330 horsepower and up to 270 ft-lb of torque. Meanwhile, the M56 gets 420 horsepower and 417 ft-lb of torque from its 5.6-liter direct-injection DOHC aluminum-alloy V8 engine.

Honda unveiled the P-NUT Concept at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. The Honda Personal-Neo Urban Transport (P-NUT) design study model demonstrates a futuristic concept for an ultra-compact and sophisticated city coupe.

"A new generation is discovering the benefits of living in urban centers that provide convenient access to business, entertainment and social opportunities," said Dave Marek, director of advanced design for Honda R&D Americas, Inc. "The Personal-Neo Urban Transport concept explores the packaging and design potential for a vehicle conceived exclusively around the city lifestyle."

Volkswagen has today unveiled the pioneering new Up! Lite concept, a vehicle which sets new standards in economy and efficiency. Described as the “world’s most fuel efficient four seater,” the new concept is based on Volkswagen’s New Small Family (NSF) architecture and is claimed to return up to 70 mpg in fuel economy on the highway.

The centerpiece of the Up! Lite powertrain is the newly designed 0.8-liter TDI two-cylinder turbodiesel engine with an output of 50 horsepower. The end result is a top speed of 100 mph and acceleration to 62 mph from rest in a respectable 12.5 seconds.

The 2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta will be presented to the world at the forthcoming Geneva Car Show. In the Centenary year, the name is a tribute to an automobile myth and Alfa Romeo. The Giulietta is a car that, in the fifties, caught the imagination of generations of car enthusiasts, making the dream of owning an Alfa Romeo and enjoying the high level of comfort and technical excellence accessible for the first time.

The Giulietta will be offered with a choice of two petrol engines (1.4TB - 120 HP and 1.4TB MultiAir - 170 HP) and two diesel engines (1.6 JTDM - 105 HP and 2.0 JTDM - 170 HP, both belonging to the second generation of JTDM engines). The top of the line will be a 1750 TBi that develops 235 HP with an exclusive Quadrifoglio Verde configuration.

Infiniti announced today, the 2010 version of Infiniti’s lead-in sports model for Europe, Infiniti G37th Heaven. A more dynamic look and revised interior, with state-of-the-art infotainment technology available, take the Infiniti G37 Saloon into a new decade with more presence and quality than ever.

New front light clusters – still with bi-Xenon adaptive cornering headlights as standard – and a fresh-looking iteration of the familiar double-arch Infiniti grille are the main component changes, proving the rightness of the original design. A redesigned under-bumper section with recessed, wide-set foglights (previously the fogs were set into the main light clusters) gives the 2010 G37 Saloon a more purposeful edge to its already striking visual impact.