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8 cars we're most looking forward to driving in 2015

Now that 2014 is officially in the books, it's time to look ahead. And following our list of the cars we liked best last year, we're now setting our sights at the hot new metal that's coming our way in 2015. Some of these, we've already seen. And some are still set to debut during the 2015 auto show season. But these are the machines that keep us going – the things on the horizon that we're particularly stoked to drive, and drive hard. Jeep Renegade Not the Chevrolet Corvette Z06. Not the Ford Mustang GT350. Not the new John Cooper Works Mini. Nope, I'm looking forward to the adorable, trail-rated Jeep Renegade. And that's because I really, really, really like our long-term Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. I do not, however, care too much for the Cherokee's looks, and I really don't like its $38,059 price tag. The Renegade Trailhawk, meanwhile, promises much of the same rough-and-tumble character as its big brother, but at what we expect will be a more reasonable price (I'm personally wagering on the baby Jeep's off-road model starting at no more than $23,000). With a 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a nine-speed automatic, it should also be a bit easier to fill than the V6-powered Cherokee. Also, I can't help but love the way the Renegade looks. It's like someone took a Wrangler, squished it by 50 percent and then handed it off to George Clinton for a healthy dose of funk. The interior, with its bright, expressive trims and color schemes should also be a really nice place to spend some time. I'll be attending the Renegade's launch later this month, so I'll have a much shorter wait than my colleagues. Here's hoping the baby Jeep lives up to my expectations. – Brandon Turkus Associate Editor Mazda MX-5 Miata Here's an uncomfortable truth: I'd rather spend a day driving a properly sorted Mazda MX-5 Miata of any generation on a winding road than I would nearly any other vehicle, regardless of power, price or prestige. It's not just that I prize top-down driving and enjoy the Miata's small size because it gives me more road to play with. I just find there's more motoring joy to be had with high-fidelity handling and an uncorrupted car-to-driver communication loop than I do with face-distorting power or grip – let alone valet-stand gravitas. But perhaps most of all, I love Miatas because they can deliver that level of feedback and driver reward at modest speeds that won't put the locals on edge or endanger lives – you can use more of the car more of the time.

Acura NSX hybrid wins Time Attack 2 division at Pikes Peak

Acura sent three NSX supercars up the PIkes Peak Hill Climb and one of them - the TA2 that was a standard NSX with some additional safety equipment - beat out its competition in the Time Attack 2 class by over 11 seconds with a time of 10:28.820. Nick Robinson was the driver. This was not his first time atop the podium, as he won the PP250 motorcycle class last year. The EV concept NSX came in second in the Electric Modified class with a time of 9:06.015. That's good enough for third place overall. Acura says that the TA1 NSX - which had a lighter chassis and a modified racing exhaust – "also campaigned." Both the TA1 and TA2 NSX vehicles used the car's standard three-motor hybrid powertrain. Related Video: 2017 Acura NSX Supercar Claims Class Victory in North American Racing Debut at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Jun 26, 2016 - PIKES PEAK, Colo. Acura NSX wins its North American racing debut by more than 11 seconds American-built NSX wins Time Attack 2 class at 100th running of the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb NSX-inspired Acura 4-Motor EV Concept finishes second in the Electric Modified Class The recently-launched 2017 Acura NSX claimed victory today in its North American racing competition debut, climbing the 14,115-foot pinnacle of Pikes Peak and clinching first place in the Time Attack 2 class at the 2016 Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the 100th anniversary of the running of America's second oldest race. The production-based Acura NSX is powered by Acura's revolutionary three-motor Sport Hybrid Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive™ powertrain (Sport Hybrid SH-AWD®), the first electrified torque vectoring powertrain in the world of exotic sports cars. With added required safety equipment for competition, the NSX negotiated the 12.42-mile course in a time of 10:28.820 to win the Time Attack 2 class of the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Nick Robinson, North American R&D team member and engineer in charge of the next-generation supercar's dynamic performance, drove the production-based Acura NSX to victory. Nick is also the reigning PP250 winner from the 2015 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. "I'm incredibly happy to have won the Production Class with the new NSX!" Robinson reported.

Hurricane Sandy cost automakers 15,000 vehicles, may have ruined up to 200k

Hurricane Sandy was the largest Atlantic storm in US history, and its total economic impact is just now coming into view. According to Automotive News, Toyota, Chrysler, Nissan and Honda are set to scrap around 15,000 new vehicles ruined by the storm. Nissan alone accounts for about 40 percent of those, with 6,000 Nissan and Infiniti models deeded "un-saleable" due to damage. The company saw 56 dealerships shuttered due to the storm, but 51 of those have since reopened.
Toyota, meanwhile, had some 4,000 vehicles at its Newark port facility, and of those, 3,000 may be scrapped. An additional 825 were dealer inventory when they were ruined. Honda and Acura dealers are reportedly sending 3,440 vehicles to the salvage yard. By comparison, Chrysler weathered the storm fairly well with 825 units destroyed, while Hyundai suffered only 400 lost units and Kia scrapped around 200.
As you may recall, Fisker also suffered some losses, and Automotive News reports the manufacturer saw 320 Karma models damaged beyond repair. Ford and General Motors have yet to come up with estimates, and no automaker has commented on the full cost of replacing the vehicles.