New Acura / Honda NSX Sports Hybrid Concept that will Enter Production by 2015

Acura has just introduced the NSX Concept at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and these are the first official photos. The Japanese automaker has shown several concept models over the years for a replacement to the iconic Honda / Acura NSX that was built from 1990 until 2005, but for one reason or the other, none of them managed to reach the production phase
This time, however, Acura says the NSX Concept is the real deal with the production model to debut within the next three years. Interestingly, Acura says that it will developed by an engineering team led by Honda R&D Americas, and manufactured in Ohio, at a yet to be named facility.
Like the original model, the NSX features a mid-mounted naturally aspirated V6 engine but with a twist; Acura's engineers added the firm's Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) hybrid system that utilizes three electric motors.
The next VTEC V6 engine comes with direct-injection and is linked to a dual clutch transmission with built-in electric motor. In addition, two-motor electric-drive unit can provide torque to the front wheels during cornering to improve handling.
"This Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system will make NSX the ultimate expression of Acura's idea to create synergy between man and machine," said Takanobu Ito, president and CEO of Honda Motor. "The NSX will make the driver one with the car to enhance dynamic driving abilities without getting in the way."
"Like the first NSX, we will again express high performance through engineering efficiency," added Ito, who led the development of Acura's first NSX supercar. "In this new era, even as we focus on the fun to drive spirit of the NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities."
The new NSX also employs lightweight materials while its styling doesn't bear many similarities to the original model.

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Infiniti New Teaser and Video on its Geneva Show-Bound Electric Sports Car Concept

While all eyes remain on the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, Infiniti thought it would be a good idea to release the third teaser picture and a video of its yet-to-be named, range extended electric sports car concept ahead of its world premiere at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March. In its latest release, the luxury brand reveals that the concept's range-extender drivetrain will be mounted in a mid-ship package for optimal weight distribution to improve handling. Both the powertrain package and layout are all-new to Infiniti
The Japanese luxury brand says that the concept's goal is to show that there's no need to compromise between high performance and sustainable mobility, while also previewing the firm's new styling direction.
We'll keep you updated on any new details or photos we get on the Infiniti concept, but in the meantime, scroll down to check out the gallery and the video with Francois Bancon, Infiniti’s Divisional General Manager for Advanced Product Planning.

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Toyota’s Fun-Vii Concept In Action [Photos And Video]

Toyota‘s Fun-Vii Concept debuted at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show featuring some very cool, futuristic technology. They dubbed the concept car as a smartphone on wheels, bragging about its exterior body that can be manipulated as a digital display.

But those that weren’t fortunate enough to be over in Tokyo when Toyota debuted the concept is now in for a treat. As much fun as it is trying to describe in words what Toyota aims to do with the Fun-Vii, it’s just a ton easier to show it in action through a video. In less than five minutes, Toyota shows off its smartphone integration, augmented-reality gaming, a holographic digital assistant and its vehicle-to-vehicle networking system in the video clip.
Toyota also touches on their future of electrified powertrains with wireless charging and autonomous driving mode. It might seem to be something out of a Tron movie, but we’re definitely excited to see how Toyota will pursue these concepts in future vehicles.
Check out the video after the break.

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Toyota’s Fun-Vii Concept Car Is A Smartphone On Wheels: 2011 Tokyo Motor Show Preview

Toyota unveiled today their Fun-Vii concept car ahead of its official debut at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. The concept, dubbed as a “smartphone on wheels” by Toyota President Akio Toyoda, allows drivers to customize the skin of the car to display anything from stock quotes to advertising to pictures downloaded from their phones.

Seating three, the Fun-Vii’s ultimate goal is to add a fourth dimension to the driving experience. That is, interconnectivity will join driving, turning and stopping. Toyota of course has no realistic release date for such a concept (if it even goes into production in any form), but has envisioned it to have other features such as auto-pilot and an onboard 3D hologram avatar for a year 20XX release. That’s right, 20XX – Toyota is pretty confident something like this will be manufactured in this century.

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BMW Launches M5 [With Prices]

This week's Auto Expo 2012 in New Delhi saw the BMW Group launch the new 2012 M5 high-performance saloon as well as the MINI brand in India. However, with ex-showroom prices ranging from 24.9 lakhs or about US$47,000 / €36,700 for the MINI Cooper to a whopping 95.9 lakhs or US$181,000 / €141,200 for the BMW M5 (and which do not include applicable sales tax or handling charges), even the cheapest MINI will remain hoisted from the reach of the vast majority of Indian buyers.
On the other hand, it's also a game of numbers and with a population of 1.2 billion people, there's bound to be a significant market for premium-priced models in India.
The MINI brand enters the Indian market with a comprehensive range of models that includes the Cooper and Cooper S hatchbacks, the Cooper Convertible and the Cooper S Countryman crossover.
Speaking during the presentation of the cars at the New Delhi Show, Andreas Schaaf, President, BMW Group India, said:
"With the launch of MINI, the BMW Group debuts in the premium small car segment in India. In the start-up phase, BMW Group’s main focus will be to concentrate on successfully establishing the MINI brand in India. At a later stage, the BMW Group will focus on further development of dealer network and higher sales volumes."

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The Best-Selling Premium Brand in the U.S. for 2011

The one thing we knew for sure after the manufacturing disruptions in Japan caused by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami was that Lexus wasn’t going to top the premium segment in the U.S. market for the first time in a decade. In fact, we also knew something else, the two contenders to the throne: BMW and Mercedes-Benz. What we didn’t know up until Thursday is which of two brands was going to win, since both were caught in a neck-to-neck sales race. Going into December the gap was so small - less than 1,600 cars- that the win could go either way.
In the end, both German carmakers increased their 2011 sales by 13 percent compared to 2010, but the winner was BMW, which sold 247,907 units, leaving Mercedes-Benz in second place since with 245,231 sales. According to Edmunds.com, BMW raised its incentives by more than US$200 per vehicle in December, while Mercedes’ incentives remained flat.
Lexus saw its sales fall by 13.4 percent, to 198,552 vehicles, which relegated Toyota’s luxury brand to third place. Nevertheless, on Wednesday, company officials estimated that Lexus’ sales in the U.S. will rise by more than 20 percent this year, putting it back in the race for the top spot.
The two other Japanese luxury brands, Honda’s Acura and Nissan’s Infiniti, also suffered from supply problems and the strong yen, recording an 8 and 4.8 percent drop which placed them in sixth and eighth place respectively.
General Motors performed quite well, with Buick finishing fourth with a 14.3 percent increase to 177,633 units, and Cadillac right behind with a growth of 3.7 percent and sales of 152,389 units.
While Audi managed to increase its sales by 16 percent, it couldn’t manage anything better than seventh place and 117,561 units, less than half of its leading compatriots.
The U.S. luxury segment top 10 is rounded off by Lincoln with 85,643 units that amount to essentially flat sales, and Volvo which, despite ending last with just 67,240 sales, recorded a 25 percent increase compared to 2010.

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