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Audio and video entertainment are becoming more and more central to the way we use our cars, and as such features gain importance, the race to build the best stereo or DVD system becomes just as important as fuel efficiency, horsepower and handling to many buyers. Lincoln's inclusion of a THX II...

The car industry has been dreading increases in the required roof strength of their cars for years now. The current regulations are holdovers from decades past, and safety advocates are calling for new standards that would dramatically improve safety, though the industry fears the high costs that...

Europe’s annual Car of the Year awards are on again and the finalists have been revealed. Whittled down to just seven front-runners from a field of 38 candidates, the competition is expected to be exceptionally close - there is no run-away favorite. Last year’s winner - the Fiat 500 minicar -...

Skoda is using this week’s Paris Motor Show to debut the facelifted version of its middle segment Octavia sedan, which receives new styling both front and rear, an updated interior, and several new engines as part of its 2009 model year update. When looking from the front, the key changes...

The once cash-strapped Seat brand is on the verge of developing a range of new models, with no less than four different vehicles planned for production within the next three to four years. The launch of the Ibiza hatch in April was just the tip of the iceberg as the Spanish carmaker is now working...

There were no winners in September's sales totals, with every major manufacturer in the market down against the same month last year. The tale is as much one of the U.S. economy and the finance industry's condition as it is of the carmakers', but the effect it will have on bottom lines and future...

Though its U.S. production run was canceled two weeks ago, the Chevrolet Orlando crossover/family vehicle concept is still making its global debut at the Paris Motor Show this week. The car is expected to be a hit in the non-U.S. markets where it will see sales, and the fresh design makes a good...

Like many other manufacturers, Audi has chosen the theme of fuel efficiency for its Paris Motor Show exhibitions, and the latest addition to the group is the Audi A4 TDI Concept e. Built around a highly efficient diesel engine that's good for 58.95mpg (3.99L/100km) in mixed driving, the car is an...

Several weeks ago, General Motors Company [NYSE:GM] released the first details and images for its new Chevrolet Cruze ahead of the compact sedan's scheduled world debut at the 2008 Paris Auto Show, which took place today. Joining the recently launched Insignia sedan, the new Cruze has been...

In a world first for a Dutch carmaker, DuraCar will feature a world premiere at the Paris Motor Show this week. Suitably, the car that's being launched is not an ordinary car: its body and chassis are made entirely of plastic, and all of its power comes from electricity. Called the QUICC! DiVa, the...

Keeping Colin Chapman’s belief of increased performance through less weight clearly in mind when enhancing the Exige Sport Cup 260, Lotus engineers have improved on the already nimble 2008 version of the car by swapping more parts with light-weight carbon-fiber replacements. By replacing most...

Less than a month after the reveal of the long-awaited Mercedes Benz S400 BlueHybrid comes the latest vehicle in the luxury carmaker’s line of ultra-efficient models, the all-new S320 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, which is set to go sale in Europe at the end of the year. Extensive modifications to the...

Call it a bailout or call it an aid package, the car industry is only concerned with securing the funds it believes it needs to remain competitive as CAFE standards tighten. The federal government has taken heed of calls from both unions and the carmakers, with both houses of Congress having...

Saab is planning to launch a new compact car based on its recently-revealed 9-X BioHybrid concept vehicle in 2010 that will be aimed squarely at premium hatchbacks like the Mini Cooper and BMW 1-series. The model will likely be called the 9-1 and was originally thought to share the Delta II...

Nissan’s premium Infiniti brand has for most of its life been sold exclusively in North America and is only now expanding into markets, namely Europe. Nissan is now hoping to sell its more upmarket models in other markets but the decision to expand the Infiniti brand is an expensive one and...

The 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show will be a big event again this year, as many carmakers have model reveals planned. None are more central to the carmaker's brand image than the upcoming Z-car launch expected from Nissan in the form of the all-new 370Z. The latest reports indicate that the company is...

Renault's funky Kangoo line of micro-vans, or MPVs, gains a new member today as the company reveals the Be Bop, modeled closely on the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show Kangoo Compact Concept. Built around a large glass cabin and a small four-seat platform, the Be Bop is Renault's entry into the lifestyle...

Just a few days ago we learned of Volkswagen's plans to introduce a new, more powerful version of the Golf GTI, dubbed the GTI Plus. An all-new R-model, the R42, is reportedly in the works as well. Now it has been revealed that VW is also working on a new trim and appearance package called R-Line...

The Guinness World Record for lowest fuel consumption has been claimed by hypermiling power couple John and Helen Taylor at the wheel of a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. Burning diesel across the lower 48 United States, the pair averaged 58.82mpg (3.99L/100km) over 20 days. Previously the record for...

At the Geneva Auto Show in March, Ferrari debuted its One-to-One personalization program on the 612 Scaglietti, offering a unique and completely individualized customization service for its cars. Now, just ahead of the Paris Motor Show where the all-new California will be on display, Ferrari has...