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2015 Lexus RC F leaked out ahead of upcoming debut?

Lexus has had a somewhat volatile relationship with coupes. The first-gen SC gave way to the bloated second-gen convertible, which itself went out of production three years ago. The LFA arrived the same year the SC departed, but awesome as it was, it's six-figure price tag and limited production put it well out of reach even for the brand's typical upscale customers. That left only the IS Convertible to hold down the two-door end of the lineup, but Lexus is keen to fill that void with the arrival of the upcoming RC.
Oft been spied and speculated, the RC has reportedly leaked out from Japan's Best Car magazine in tantalizing RC F spec - although with the increasing quality of renderings (and the graininess of the photos in question), we could be looking at an artist's impression. That will upgrade the base coupe's anticipated 3.5-liter V6 and 306 horsepower with a 5.0-liter V8 churning out 455 hp, along with more aggressive styling previewed by the LF-CC concept.
Signs point toward the RC serving as the coupe counterpart to the IS, while the IS Convertible is expected to carry on (either in current or facelifted form) on the outgoing model's platform. Look for a reveal at either the Tokyo Motor Show in November or the Detroit Auto Show in December.

2015 Mini Cooper snapped uncovered on the road

The third generation of reborn Mini is nearly upon us. Just look at the trail of breadcrumbs the Anglo-Saxon automaker has been leaving us.
First we saw the upcoming new Mini Cooper, spied from above at a photo shoot, which Mini was quick to point out was not its best angle. Then BMW's retro-hatch division showcased the Mini Vision concept, and followed up just yesterday with details of the new engines and chassis that will underpin the latest model. And now we have the clearest batch of spy shots we've seen yet.
Not only were these shots taken from a better angle, but also show the new Mini in the more tempting Cooper S trim - complete with hood scoop, split-spoke alloys, roof spoiler and twin central exhaust tips.

PSA aims to sell Chinese on French quality by giving them wine

China is the house that every robber baron is trying to break into. PSA Peugeot Citroën has been in-country since the early eighties, getting there with Volkswagen, but the French brand largely spent its time sniffing the plum blossoms while the German brand grabbed the dragon and tamed it. No more: PSA expects China to be its largest market by 2015, and it has spent more than a year rearranging its affairs to make a cohesive push for Chinese hearts and minds and renminbi.
After rationalizing its business operations there, Peugeot will move its wares upmarket to put space between it and Citroën, the Citroën DS line will be a standalone brand - the only place in the world where that will be the case - and according to a report in Businessweek both brands will heavily promote their association with French luxury by giving away wine and perfume to those who visit dealerships.
France, as the number one destination for Chinese tourists, does have a strong pull for the locals. But those visitors are interested in France mainly because of brands like Louboutin and Louis Vuitton, so it will take time and serious investment to find out if "premium mainstream" and "near-premium" brands can truly form a consumer bond with some of the definitive marques for sybarites.

2009-2013 Mazda6 door latch recall covers 161k cars

Mazda is voluntarily recalling 161,400 Mazda6 cars due to door latch mounting screws that may loosen, which could cause a door to open while the vehicle is in motion, thereby increasing the risk of accident or injury. The recall covers 2009 through 2013 Mazda6 models manufactured between February 4, 2008 and August 24, 2012.
The recall is expected to begin by October 18, 2013. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will provide repairs free of charge. Scroll down for the official recall notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Alpine wins European Le Mans Series in first season back

It's been a long time since we've seen an Alpine roaring on either road or track, but this year Renault is bringing back the once vaunted marque in a big way. It's got a new sports car under development together with Caterham, but to drum up some enthusiasm and rekindle the spirit of the Alpine win at Le Mans in 1978, Renault relaunched the Alpine racing team in European endurance racing this season. And after an absence of 35 years, the Alpine team has prevailed once again.
Out of just five races, the Signatech Alpine team scored three podium finishes, including outright victory in Hungary two weeks ago. After finishing in fourth place at Paul Ricard this weekend, the Alpine duo of Pierre Ragues and Nelson Panciatici emerged the dominant force in the 2013 European Le Mans Series.
They scored both the drivers' and teams' titles in the LMP2 category that forms the top tier in the ELMS championship (LMP1 teams compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship), while Team Endurance Challenge took the LMPC title, RAM Racing won in LMGTE and SMP Racing dominated the GTC standings.

Google Earth helps sheriff's department find stolen car [w/video]

A stolen-vehicle case opened back in March was recently solved with the help of a property owner using Google Earth, a virtual globe and mapping service similar to Google Maps, ABC News reports. The man, who remains anonymous, found the stolen GMC Yukon while he was surveying his property in George County, Mississippi, using the map service and, judging by the top-down satellite image, thought he found a "shooting house" on his hunting grounds.
When he drove out to the suspicious structure, he realized it actually was a sport utility vehicle wedged in thick brush about 70 yards from the nearest road, so he called the police.
Law enforcement officers had arrested a female suspect in the case earlier based on eyewitness accounts, but didn't prosecute her because the stolen SUV hadn't been found. Ben Brown, a lieutenant detective with the George County Sheriff's Department, says that he ran the plates and confirmed the SUV was the stolen vehicle the department had been looking for.

Mini announces thoroughly modern engines and chassis for 2014 Cooper

The 2014 Cooper will come with a three-cylinder engine and the Cooper S will get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, both with Mini's TwinPower turbochargers.
We have seen spy photos of the all-new Mini Cooper. We have been teased about its drivetrain. Now we have the engine details confirmed by BMW.

Audi's Mike Rockenfeller takes DTM title

Since its return in 2010 as the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, German touring car racing has been largely a game of cat and mouse - the cat being Audi and the mouse being Mercedes-Benz. Or vice versa, take your pick. Because through 2011, each had won the drivers' championship six times (Mercedes still dominating the constructors' championship standings). But then BMW jumped back in last season and won the title in its first year back on the grid.
The big question for this season among race fans in Germany and really across Europe (this year's calendar having included races in England, Russia and Holland) was whether BMW would pull it off again, if Audi would pick up where it left off or if Mercedes would split the difference. And now we have our answer.
With one race still left to go at Hockenheim, Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller has already taken the 2013 DTM title. The German native has been dominating the standings this season, winning the races at Brands Hatch and Moscow and coming in second at the EuroSpeedway in Brandenburg and at Zandvoort this weekend. An accomplished driver, Rockenfeller previously won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2010 as well as the (European) Le Mans Series title in 2008, both also for Audi.

Ford's Mulally now said to be in lead for Microsoft CEO job

There have been rumors that Ford CEO Alan Mulally could assume the top job over at Microsoft, whose CEO, Steve Ballmer, will retire within the year. Mulally hasn't come out and said that he's considering moving to Microsoft after (or before) his contract with Ford through 2014 ends, but sources in the know say he's the front-runner to become the tech giant's CEO and has opened up to the idea more in recent weeks, AllThingsD reports.
Mulally is no stranger to Washington, where Microsoft is located, having worked in the state for Seattle-based Boeing Commercial Airplanes as CEO years ago. He also recently was an adviser to Ballmer in an effort to realign the company's management structure to help it become more competitive in a fast-changing computer hardware and software market. And when Ford developed its Sync digital interface, it tapped Microsoft to provide the operating system, Microsoft Auto. Perhaps the least crucial connection - but nonetheless an important one - is that Mulally still owns a house in the Seattle area, and it's been said he wants to return there, according to AllThingsD.
A main challenge Microsoft's next CEO will face is how to manage the company's numerous, fractured operations and, eventually, streamline them. But even on this front, Mulally has experience; after all, it was he who ushered in an era of global Ford vehicles, after the automaker had become complacent developing and selling vehicles by region leading up to the economic recession of 2008-2009.

US-built Corollas will soon be exported to Latin America, Caribbean

Toyota has announced plans to export the American-made Corolla south, to 18 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2014. The move follows statements made to The Wall Street Journal by Toyota's South American leader, Steve St. Angelo, that spoke to Toyota's resolve in emerging American markets.
Toyota is expected to begin export production in April, with initial production of 7,500 Corollas in the first year, courtesy of its Tupelo, Mississippi assembly plant. Years of unpredictable swings in the value of the Japanese yen has seen Toyota push its manufacturing operations in other countries, particularly the US, where its builds ten different models.
Scroll down to read the full press release from Toyota.

Mercedes shows 'Granturismo of the seas' yacht form in Monaco

A year after showing off its extraterrestrial, 46.2-foot yacht concept, Mercedes-Benz Style and Silver Arrows Marine have a revealed a two-meter mock-up of the watercraft's final exterior, along with detailed interior design renderings. Unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show going on right now, the boat even has a name: the Arrow640 - Granturismo.
Other blanks have been filled in from last year as well: its design represents "sensual purity," the interior is an open-plan concept for up to ten passengers with a dining table and bed that "slide into position" when either is needed, materials include nubuck leather and eucalyptus wood paneling set off by "sophisticated color combinations," window glazing will control light penetration according to the sun's intensity, and the decking is composed of "a high-tech synthetic material." It will be powered by two diesel engines producing a total of 940 horsepower and will cost 1.25 million euros ($1.69M US). First deliveries are slated for 2015.
The order book for the Edition 1 version of the Arrow640 - Granturismo opens at the Monaco show, with the limited-to-ten series including everything but air conditioning and premium audio. You can expect it to cost more.

Nissan's current Rogue renamed Rogue Select, will live alongside next gen

Despite the fact that an all-new generation of its Rogue crossover goes on sale in November, Nissan will continue to sell the current model alongside its replacement. The existing C-platform-based Rogue, which will be renamed Rogue Select, will start at less than $20,000 when it goes on sale in January 2014. At present, a base 2013 Rogue S prices out slightly higher, from $20,310, but we wouldn't be surprised to see the 2014 Rogue Select come to market with more standard equipment and simplified trim options. It will continue to be built in Kyushu, Japan.
According to Nissan, the unusual move is "to satisfy demand for the popular compact sports utility vehicle, currently second-highest seller in Nissan's lineup, as well as provide customers an additional choice in the segment." It's hard to hard to argue with the numbers: Nissan cites 2012 calendar-year sales of 142,349 Rogue units in the US, with 2013 sales increasing 16 percent through August despite the vehicle's age.
The strategy may also give Nissan the chance to ask for more money for the second-generation model (which is based on a new Common Module Family platform shared with partner Renault) while keeping it clear of residual-value-damaging fleet sales. The new Rogue looks to be both larger and more luxurious, with an available third-row seat, and it should be more economical to produce, as it will be built in Nissan's Smyrna, TN plant.

BMW recalls over 76k 2012-2014 models over brake failure

Bimmerfest is reporting that BMW has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of its intention to voluntarily recall more than 75,000 3 Series, 5 Series, X1, X3 and Z4 models due to a possible loss of power brake assist that could result in the vehicles failing to stop. The recall affects 2012-2014 models equipped with either the N20 or N26 engine produced from May 2012 to August 2013. Until recall repairs have been performed, BMW dealers will discontinue selling or delivering any affected vehicles in their inventories.
The problem has been traced to restricted oil supply from the intake camshaft to the brake vacuum pump, which may cause the brake vacuum pump to fail, resulting in a loss of power brake assist. While the hydraulic brakes will still function, the driver must much apply greater pedal pressure and the distance required to stop the vehicle will increase.
BMW has reported three minor accidents with no confirmed injuries. According to Bimmerfest, drivers who encounter a braking problem should "pull the emergency brake and apply as much brake pedal pressure as possible. If your BMW has an electronic parking brake pull up and hold the switch to engage the brake." Drivers should then park in a safe location and contact BMW Roadside Assistance.

Semi-autonomous Nissan Leaf certified for road use in Japan [w/video]

In order to meet its goal of having an autonomous car in production by 2020, Nissan is going to have be able to test its technology in real-world driving conditions. For this, the automaker has just received a license plate to legally test its semi-autonomous driver assist systems in Japan, marking the first time such technologies have been tested on that country's roads. Not ironically, the license plate number is 2020.
Though not fully autonomous, this Leaf prototype will test various components of a self-driving car including exiting the highway, the ability to stay in its lane and change lanes when needed, stopping at red lights and overtaking stopped or slow traffic. Nissan is also in the process of building a proving ground in Oppama, Japan dedicated solely to autonomous cars, but the ability to test on public roads will obviously play a crucial role in the development of these cars. Scroll down for a short video and press release Nissan posted to mark the occasion.

Europe's most-wanted classic car is... the Ford Mustang?

Over the span of its 49 years and five generations, the Ford Mustang has held a special place in the hearts of automotive enthusiasts in the US, but, as it turns out, this car is also very popular amongst European car lovers. Earlier this summer, AutoScout24 - a new and used car shopping site in Europe - polled around 75,000 European "car lovers" (not sure how they vetted the respondents) to see which cars were the most popular, and the Mustang came out on top over iconic European classics like the BMW M1 and Volkswagen Beetle.
In the whole of Europe, 37 percent of those polled dream of owning a Mustang, but that number jumps in individual countries like Austria (42 percent) and Spain (41 percent). Rounding out the top five popular classics in Europe are the Mini and Citroën 2CV. Find out which cars made up the rest of the top 10 in the press release posted below.

eBay Find of the Day: Corvette-powered '64 Citro"en ID19 restomod

Take a look at the fastest Citroën ID19 (read: DS) you'll probably ever see: a 1964 model with a Chevrolet LS1 V8 swap that produces over 400 horsepower - a most unusual eBay find of the day. What's more is that this particular hot rod Citroën has been driven by rockstar Alice Cooper, who will apparently provide an autographed guitar and tour photo to the auction winner, along with two tickets to his Christmas Pudding show and the opportunity to play a round of golf with him in Arizona.
As far as we can tell from the eBay Motors ad, the Citroën doesn't actually belong to Alice Cooper, but who cares when it has a custom rear-wheel-drive chassis by Art Morrison and more than enough grunt to break the rear wheels loose on command? Finally, that beautifully sleek, aerodynamic shape can be put to use at over 100 miles per hour. But it wasn't always so, which is part of the charm of this custom build.
The Citroën DS was many things - ahead of its time, innovative, comfortable, complex - yet a hot rod it was not. It was known more for its power steering and plush ride quality courtesy of its self-leveling, height-adjustable suspension than for being able to take a corner at high speeds. It had front disc brakes, but more importantly, they were the first power-assisted disc brakes on a production car. The DS even was designed to house an air-cooled flat six more than a decade before Porsche 911 started production, but in the end, Citroën had to use its antiquated four-cylinder mill instead.

DoJ fines Japanese parts firms $740M in massive automotive price-fixing scandal

Nine Japanese suppliers have pleaded guilty in US court over charges of price fixing in the automotive parts industry, resulting in the Department of Justice doling out a total of $740 million of fines, according to a report from Bloomberg. The scandal, which has resulted in General Motors, Ford, Toyota and Chrysler spending up to $5 billion on inflated parts and driving up prices on 25 million vehicles has sent the DoJ hustling into investigations. "The conduct this investigation uncovered involved more than a dozen separate conspiracies aimed at the U.S. economy," Attorney General Eric Holder (pictured above) said during yesterday's press conference.
As the investigation stands, the DoJ has issued $1.6 billion in fines against 20 companies and 21 individual executives, with 17 of the execs headed to prison. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Scott Hammond said, "The breadth of the conspiracies brought to light today are as egregious as they are pervasive. They involve more than a dozen separate conspiracies operating independently but all sharing in common that they targeted US automotive manufacturers."
Big-name suppliers indicted in the investigation include Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Hitachi Automotive and Mitsuba Corporation. A list of fines and other corporations named in the investigation is available at Bloomberg.

Dodge to resurrect Scat Pack?

Before social media ever existed, if automotive enthusiasts wanted to be noticed or recognize other fans, they joined a car club. For Dodge muscle car lovers from 1968 through 1971, that group was known as the Scat Pack. Just like the Charger, Challenger and Dart nameplates, it looks like the Scat Pack could be getting a resurrection by Chrysler.
Automotive News is reporting that Chrysler recently renewed its trademark on the Scat Pack name, and while this is in no way a guarantee that the name will return, AN talked to Tim Kuniskis, Dodge President and CEO, who stoked the fire a little more. In the article, Kuniskis said that the name is "a very important part of our history" and added that "we like the whole idea of having a Scat Pack of cars." Scat Pack models were identified by their bumblebee stripes and helmet-wearing bumblebee logo, and the idea of a modern Scat Pack doesn't seem all that outlandish in light of recent vehicles like the Charger SRT Super Bee and the Ram 1500 Rumble Bee Concept.
What do you think, is this a cool idea, or is it just an unwelcome bit of nostalgia? Have you say in Comments.

Ford Mustang GT350 seen and heard in motion for the first time

We just recently saw our first spy shots of the next-gen hi-po Ford Mustang slated to replace the Shelby GT500, but now we're getting our first look - and listen - of prototypes captured on video. Mustang6g.com has the video (along with some different spy shots), which show that, if nothing else, SVT knows how to tune an exhaust system. The :50 mark is a good example of this, but fast-forward to around 2:00 where the driver revs the engine and really gets on the throttle hard taking off from a stop.
There's still no definitive evidence that the next-gen SVT Mustang - said to be called GT350 - will be naturally aspirated, but it sounds just as menacing as the current Shelby GT500. While the video posted below exhibits the sort of quality that is to be expected from someone driving while trying to film someone who is attempting to elude being filmed, it's still exciting to see and hear this new Mustang in motion.

VW readying new VR6 with forced induction

Volkswagen built a stonking, narrow-angle V6 in the 1980s and 1990s that was found in three different generations of the Golf (their performance iterations, obviously), three generations of the Passat, the New Beetle, the Corrado and the Touareg, among other VWs, a spate of Audis, Seats, a Skoda, and even the Porsche Cayenne. It was a sad day when it was announced that it'd be put out to pasture.
Rejoice, though, fans of the venerable VR6, because Volkswagen has a new, modern variant in the works that, according to AutoWeek, features direct injection and can easily be fitted with forced induction. In fact, AW mentions Volkswagen insiders that claim this unit will spawn a production version of the twin-turbo V6 shown on the Design Vision GTI from this year's Wörthersee festival. That unit produced an epic 503 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque.
Don't expect a production unit with that level of power (although it would make a hardy RS4 powerplant), though. In reality, AutoWeek is suspecting anywhere from 340 to 450 horsepower from the new mill. When it arrives at an undisclosed date in the future, it'll likely be found in the Passat and Passat CC as well as the production version of the CrossBlue.

2014 Mercedes CLA250 nets 38 mpg highway

One of key reasons that small cars are popping up in luxury automakers' lineups is to help boost fleet fuel economy numbers. For Mercedes-Benz and its new 2014 CLA-Class, mission accomplished. Although Mercedes has yet to release final numbers for its new small car set to go on sale early next year, the EPA's FuelEconomy.gov website is now listing the front-wheel-drive CLA250, the range's base model, at 26 miles per gallon in the city and a commendable 38 mpg on the highway. For the moment, there's no word yet on fuel economy for the all-wheel-drive CLA250 4Matic or the sportier CLA45 AMG.
The EPA's website also reveals that the CLA will have passenger volume of 88 cubic feet as well as 13 cubic feet of trunk space. As expected from a design driven more by form rather than function, these figures are on the small side among premium small cars. Motor Trend points out that the interior space is larger only than the Lexus CT hybrid hatchback, while the cargo volume is on par with some of the smaller trunks like that of the BMW 3 Series, a class-above sedan that is actually only fractionally longer.

What's really going on with the 2014 Jeep Cherokee's transmission issues?

On September 23, Automotive News reported that Chrysler had idled the second shift workers it hired just five weeks prior at its Toledo Assembly Complex to build the 2014 Jeep Cherokee. At the time, Chrysler said it had "built the critical number of vehicles we need to stock dealerships once containment is released" and did not want "to put additional strain on our logistics partners ... upon release." That reasoning was not only unusual, it didn't seem to make sense.
It appears the center of the nine-speed issue is software, not hardware.
That same day, the Detroit News ran a piece claiming workers at the Toledo factory said the halt was due to issues with the Cherokee's transmission. It put the number of already-built Cherokees needing fixes at 1,000 and said that some of the workers not laid off had been instructed "to take the Jeep on long test-drives." That made more sense. Three days later, on September 26, Automotive News reported that the 500 workers laid off had been reinstated, with engineers "speeding repairs on the SUV's powertrain software." The AN piece didn't put a number on how many units are being fixed, but it did say that 12,000 have been built and are awaiting delivery to dealers. The best it could say about when dealers will get them, however, is that "progress on a fix is being made. It's unclear when shipments to dealers will start."

Chevy shows Silverado Black Ops, Volunteer Firefighter concepts in Texas

With the introduction of its new 2015 Silverado HD out of the way, Chevrolet unveiled two concept vehicles at the State Fair of Texas: the Silverado Z71 Volunteer Firefighter concept nor the Silverado Black Ops concept. Interestingly, both Silverado concepts were originally developed for SEMA, but the timeframe for their unveiling was moved up to appeal to truck-happy Texans.
The aptly named Volunteer Firefighter concept is a tribute to volunteer firefighters, while the Black Ops concept seems more like a zombie apocalypse truck with a cargo bed filled with survival gear... including Twinkies and Ramen noodles. While the images for concept trucks are limited, we're sure we'll still be seeing both again in November at SEMA. Until then, check out the press release posted below.

Porsche Boxster/Cayman GTS, Macan, 911 Targa details leaked

The folks over at Jalopnik have published some rather interesting images from what looks to be a presentation held inside Porsche's North American headquarters in Atlanta, GA. What these leaked photos reveal is pretty significant - details about several of the brand's upcoming launches, including GTS versions of the Boxster and Cayman, a new 911 Targa, and information about the Macan crossover that will debut at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show. Of course, none of this information has been officially verified, but it all looks and sounds pretty believable to us. So, let's dig in.
First up, Porsche will launch the Boxster and Cayman GTS models at next year's Beijing Motor Show in April. Upgrades for the GTS models will include a 15-horsepower bump, standard manual transmission (with optional dual-clutch PDK), standard Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and a slightly quicker 0-60 time. Jalopnik reports that these models will cost around $75,000.
We've spied the soon-to-be-revealed Porsche Macan (pictured right) on several occasions, and these slides suggest that the small crossover will have two different types of turbo power under its hood. The Macan S will use a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6, while the Macan Turbo will use a 3.6-liter unit. Seven-speed PDK transmissions are expected to be fitted to both, and this leaked information states that the new, small Porsche will cost $52,000 and $75,000 for the S and Turbo versions, respectively.

2014 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG

For Chief Execs In One Hell Of A Hurry
We've finally calmed down from thrashing the all-new, front-wheel-drive-biased, 4Matic A45 and CLA45 from Mercedes-Benz's AMG performance division. Our driving experiences were good and, above all, more responsive than any mainline AMG model in memory - both cars took a little getting used to dynamically, but getting comfortable didn't take long.
Now we've thrust ourselves into the driver's seat of AMG's offering at the other end of the spectrum - the new S63 AMG with its decidedly rear-biased 4Matic all-wheel drive and extended wheelbase. You can't fit two A45 AMGs bumper-to-bumper within the footprint of this 17.4-foot long, 5.1-inch-stretched S-Class, but it sure seems possible when you stare at it for the first time. This marks the first time the long-legged power player has been equipped with 4Matic. It's also the only S63 that will make it to the US in this generation - rear-wheel-drive iterations of this extended wheelbase trim are destined only for Right-Hand-Drive markets. If you can justify that logic, give us a call - Mercedes has stated for years that it has been frequently unable to package 4Matic after things have been reoriented for RHD motoring. That this still remains a challenge for the company's engineers seems weird, no?

VW readying Ducati-engined XL1 sports car

Volkswagen made waves with its ultra efficient XL1, a 1,700-pound two-seater that nets a claimed 261 miles per gallon. And while that degree of insane efficiency is admirable, we'd be lying if we didn't see some performance potential with the car's low curb weight and fanatical elimination of aerodynamic drag.
The crew in Wolfsburg must have had the same thoughts, as a story has emerged from German publication Bild that VW has a car called the XL Sports in the works, that ditches the XL1's two-cylinder, diesel-powered engine and electric motor for something a bit more potent - the 1,198-cc, 190-horsepower V-twin from the Ducati 1199 Panigale. It'd be relegated to the track, but what a firecracker it would be.
And before we get wrapped up in Bild's tabloid reputation, the story is accompanied by a shot that looks about as authentic as can be. We can't run it here, but we strongly suggest you hop over to Bild (fair warning, it's in German) and have a look. It shows Ferdinand Piëch in Vienna, showing a racing variant of the XL1, called the XL Sport, to a group of students at the Vienna University of Technology. Head over to BIld and take a look, and then head back this way and let us know what you think.

Toyota Camry could lose No. 1 sedan spot next year [w/video]

Eleven months after Toyota claimed the 2012 sales crown a couple of months early thanks to the Camry, the headlines this year have been quite a bit different to last. Even though the Camry remains the best selling car so far in 2013 and its volume has increased year-on-year, it has lost market share due to the 20-percent sales explosion in the midsize segment. That means people are buying more of the competitor offerings like the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Ford Fusion - the Altima, in fact, outsold the Camry by 100 units in March.
In July it was reported that Toyota was upping Camry incentives and fleet sales to keep its lead and that dealer inventory was climbing as, again, competitors got better at fighting the champion. In August Ford doubled down on production of the Fusion, adding a line in Flat Rock, MI to keep up with demand.
Bloomberg has a report looking at the numbers behind the Camry's dominance, as well as what appears to be a recorded group interview with Toyota USA CEO Jim Lentz, and wonders aloud whether the Camry will be able to hold its top spot in 2014. Barring catastrophe it has this year locked up, being more than 30,000 sales ahead of the next-best seller as of the end of August, but it has done so with higher incentives and lower transaction prices than its competitors. According to Strategic Vision the Camry's consideration rate among consumers has also declined by a percentage point, while the consideration rate for the Accord and Fusion has increased by one point and two points, respectively.

Nissan Titan's upcoming Cummins diesel originally meant for Ram

The Cummins 5.0-liter turbocharged diesel V8 that Ram initially planned to use in its pickup trucks instead will find its way into the 2015 Nissan Titan as an option, Automobile reports. It will be the first time a non-Ram pickup truck will be available with a Cummins diesel engine.
The move comes after Chrysler decided to use a 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel engine designed by VM Motori (which is partially owned by Fiat) due to fuel economy concerns with the Cummins engine. Chrysler wanted its 2014 Ram 1500 trucks to achieve at least 26 miles per gallon. "Our simulations were showing 23 to 24 mpg [for the 5.0-liter engine]," says Mike Cairns, head of engineering at Ram.

Hyundai, BMW in plant talks with Mexican officials

BMW and Hyundai may be joining the rush for the border that has already seen Nissan, Honda and Mazda begin factory construction in Mexico, while Ford and General Motors have both made significant investments in their Mexican facilities. BMW's interest in Mexico has been apparent for some time, and while we'd heard grumblings about Hyundai's move into Latin America some time ago, the last we heard about it was in 2009.
This new move, reported by Bloomberg, doesn't get specific on which models will be produced south of the Rio Grande, and as neither automakers' spokespeople responded to the business site's request for statements, all we really have to go on are the statements of Mexico's Economy Minister, Ildefonso Guajardo: "I cannot talk for them, but I think that starting 2014 we'll have new announcements. At least for one." Which manufacturer that will be remains anyone's guess, although judging by all the recent scuttlebutt that's been going around, the smart money seems to be on BMW. We'll stay with this one.

Motor Trend hits Laguna Seca with Ferrari F12, Chevy Corvette, Porsche 911

According to the crew at Motor Trend, we should think of the video below "as an addendum to Best Driver's Car," a test the magazine put together that elevated the 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S above all others in the category of driving joy. It seems the brand-new 2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray wasn't able to take part in the magazine's official test, and neither was the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.
And so Motor Trend did the only logical thing: It procured both the 'Vette and Prancing Horse as soon as it could, and put them both on track with the Driver's Car-winning 911. Of course, these cars don't actually compete against each other - the Ferrari offers up 731 horsepower and wears an asking price of $434,144 as tested, which means you could buy four loaded Corvettes for the price of one F12, and still have money left for a garage to store them in - but that's not the point of this particular test.
The point of this test isn't to listen to the beautiful sounds coming from the Porsche's flat-six-cylinder, the Corvette's pushrod V8 or the Ferrari's luscious V12, either, but the video below is worth watching for those three reasons alone. You know what to do.