Autoesque

Kia has become the latest manufacturer to add an electric vehicle to its range. The Ray EV is based on the recently introduced petrol-powered Ray mini-MPV and, unusually given their very different technologies, both models will share the same production line. Drive comes from a 67 bhp (50 kW / 68 PS) electric motor connected to an automatic transmission. With 167 Nm (123 lb/ft) of torque available, zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) takes a leisurely 15.9 seconds, while the Ray EV’s top speed is 81 mph (130 km/h). Performance is likely to be less important than range and recharge times to potential users, though. The 16.4 kWh lithium ion polymer battery pack, which sits beneath the rear seat and cabin floor, is claimed to be good for 86 miles (139 km) before it needs topping up. That process takes six hours using a normal domestic electricity supply, or a much more practical 25 minutes in fast-charge mode. The battery is claimed to be lighter and offer better energy density than compet

Lexus has confirmed that it’ll be unveiling the LF-LC 2+2 sport coupé at the North American International Auto Show, which takes place in Detroit in little over a week’s time. A product of the firm’s California-based Calty design studio, the concept is meant to explore how future Lexus models could look. Although the start-point was supposedly a clean sheet of paper, there’s no doubt that the overall proportions (as well as some of the styling details) seem to have been heavily influenced by the existing LF-A . And maybe that’s what the LF-LC concept is actually previewing: a smaller, more affordable LF-A which could be a spiritual successor to the long-defunct Toyota Supra? Related posts: 2012 Lexus GS unveiled LFA Nürburgring Package

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the Cadillac Escalade doesn’t make the top ten list of most stolen vehicles in the United States. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the big SUV isn’t an attractive target for criminal types, so Cadillac has decided to upgrade the Escalade’s security features for 2012. The improvements include a strengthened steering column lock, an alarm-linked inclination sensor to detect when the vehicle is being towed or lifted, the PASS Key 3+ ignition key encryption system, better wheel locks and a shock sensor that reacts to sudden movements, for instance when a window is smashed. All useful items then, even if it’s a bit surprising that such basic measures aren’t already fitted to the Escalade. And the thieves’ favourite? That’ll be the 1994 Honda Accord: Top 10: Most Stolen Vehicles in the United States Position Model 1 1994 Honda Accord 2 1995 Honda Civic 3 1991 Toyota Camry 4 1999 Chevrolet Picku

Audi seems somewhat reluctant to use the S1 nameplate, but perhaps the new limited edition A1 quattro is a precursor to just such a model? Only 333 examples are going to be built, but the bad news for enthusiasts in the UK is that - for now at least - they are all destined to be left-hand drive. On the face of it then, a strange decision by Audi to ignore one of its most important European markets… 2012 Audi A1 quattro. Scroll down for more images. That the A1 quattro appears to be an appealing package makes the situation even worse. Incorporating permanent all-wheel drive, a 252 bhp (188 kW / 256 PS) 2.0 litre TFSI engine and a six-speed manual transmission into a supermini chassis is a guaranteed recipe for brisk performance. And the figures bear that out: acceleration from zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) is claimed to take just 5.7 seconds, while the top speed is 152 mph (245 km/h). Fuel economy isn’t great though, with the A1 quattro expected to achieve a mediocre combined cyc

With the arrival of the updated 2012 Suzuki V-Strom 650 ABS earlier this year, the short-lived XP version seemed to disappear from the line-up. So, to maintain the appeal of its middleweight to adventure and touring riders, Suzuki has launched three accessory packs which are available now for both new and used bikes. Starting things off is the Tourer Pack, which comprises a lower engine cowling, chain guard, accessory bar (designed to protect the radiator side cowls), 14 litre magnetic tank bag, tank protector and hand guards. The cost is £499 including VAT and fitting, a saving of £121 compared to buying all the components separately. Next up is the Adventure Pack, which will probably tempt regular commuters as much as those contemplating epic journeys to the back of beyond. It includes all the elements of the Tourer Pack (except the tank bag) and adds a 42 litre top case, a centre stand and the Vario adjustable screen. It’s priced at £999 including VAT and fitting. Final

Despite its sporty appearance and turbocharged engine, the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS isn’t exactly a hot hatch. Not that that’s the claim, though. To quote Chris Perry, Vice President of Global Chevrolet Marketing, the new arrival “takes the Sonic’s great design and latest connectivity features and combines them with a more performance-oriented look and feel.” So it’s unsurprising that outputs from the 1.4 litre Ecotec engine could best be described as adequate: maximum power is 138 bhp (103 kW / 139 PS), while peak torque is 200 Nm (148 lb/ft). But Chevrolet probably realises that many target customers are going to focus on economy as much as performance, although no figures have been released that would indicate how well that particular balance has been achieved. For enhanced driving dynamics, the suspension is lowered and stiffened, while stopping ability should be improved thanks to the disc brakes that are fitted both front and rear. The RS treatment also means a host

Suzuki’s new flagship, the Kizashi saloon, has a lot in its favour. For example, the styling’s great, on-demand all-wheel drive comes as standard, equipment levels are generous and prices - which start from £21,995 - are competitive. However, all of that is likely to be ignored by most potential customers because of the Kizashi’s oddball powertrain. The only engine available is a petrol 2.4 litre four-cylinder from the Grand Vitara SUV, and it’s connected to a continuously variable transmission. In Europe at least, cars in this sector have to have a credible diesel option if they’re not to remain firmly stuck to the showroom floor. Unfortunately for Suzuki, the Kizashi’s figures clearly illustrate why that’s the case. A power output of 175 bhp (130 kW / 178 PS) and 230 Nm (169 lb/ft) of peak torque aren’t anything special, and neither are a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 8.8 seconds and a top speed of 127 mph (204 km/h). But that mediocre performance is nothing compared to i

A panel of fifty automotive journalists from across the United States and Canada has decided the finalists for the 2012 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards. In the North American Car of the Year category, the jurors selected the Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Passat from a shortlist of seventeen models, all of which had to be new or substantially changed in the past twelve months. Ford Focus: 2012 North American Car of the Year finalist. Those contenders that didn’t make it through to the finals were the Audi A6, Audi A7, Buick Verano, Chevrolet Sonic, Chrysler 300 / SRT-8, Fiat 500, Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Veloster, Kia Rio / Rio 5, Scion iQ, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius V and Volkswagen Beetle. The 2012 North American Truck of the Year title will go to the BMW X3, Honda CR-V or Land Rover Range Rover Evoque. There were only seven vehicles to choose the three finalists from though, with the Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Mini Countryman, Nissan

The FIM has published an updated schedule for the 2012 MotoGP season. Although still provisional, changes from the previous version include the naming of Sachsenring as host circuit for the German round, a date change for the opening Qatar event and finalisation of contractual terms for Jerez. 2012 MotoGP Championship - Provisional Calendar Date Country Circuit 08 April Qatar* Doha / Losail 29 April Spain Jerez de la Frontera 06 May Portugal (STC) Estoril 20 May France Le Mans 03 June Spain Catalunya 17 June Great Britain Silverstone 30 June Netherlands** Assen 08 July Germany (STC) Sachsenring 15 July Italy Mugello 29 July United States*** Laguna Seca 19 August United States Indianapolis 26 August Czech Republic Brno 16 September San Marino Misano 30 September Spain Aragon Motorland 14 October Japan Motegi 21 October Malaysia Sepang 28 October Australia Phillip Island 11 November

8 January 2012 Update: To see a full view of the 2013 Dodge Dart, please click here . For its new compact car, Dodge has decided to revive the Dart nameplate. It’s also going to be using a stretched and widened Alfa Romeo Giulietta platform - known as Compact U.S. Wide (CUSW) - to underpin it, emphasising the ever-closer links between Fiat and Chrysler Group products. The 2013 Dart is due to be revealed at next month’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, but in the meantime a few images have been released by Dodge as part of a teaser campaign. These show the trademark crosshairs front grille, flanked by distinctive projector headlights. At the back, there’s a Charger-inspired ‘racetrack’ LED light array and prominent dual exhausts. For the interior, decent soft-touch materials are promised, while an 8.4” Uconnect touch screen and a customisable Thin Film Transistor (TFT) gauge cluster will be available. The Dart gets ten airbags as standard, and it’s cla

Bentley has gone green (sort of) by announcing the Continental GT and GTC V8. Due to be revealed at the North American International Auto Show in January, the new twin-turbo engine displaces 4.0 litres and produces 500 bhp (373 kW / 507 PS) and 660 Nm (487 lb/ft) of peak torque. Tellingly, those outputs aren’t too far behind the 567 bhp (423 kW / 575 PS) and 700 Nm (516 lb/ft) of the existing 6.0 W12 Continental, which remains in the range. It’s a similar story with performance: the V8’s eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive system allow for a 4.6 second 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time and a top speed of 188 mph (303 km/h). By contrast, the W12 takes 4.4 seconds to get to 60 mph and can reach 198 mph (318 km/h). On that basis at least, it seems there’s not much difference between the two models. But it’s fuel consumption and emissions where the new V8 is really meant to score over its larger-engine sibling - indeed, Bentley is claiming that the 4.0 litre powert

Škoda first revealed the Octavia-sized Vision D concept at March’s Geneva Motor Show. Now more images have been released, perhaps as a reminder that the Vision D’s styling represents the Czech brand’s future design language. Typified by a long wheelbase and short overhangs (plus the new grille shape that’s already been seen on the new Citigo city car), it suggests that upcoming Škoda models could potentially look very sleek and elegant. The rumour is that the Vision D will form the basis for the next-generation Octavia. If so, the only hope is that its dynamic appearance doesn’t get too diluted in the transition from concept to production car. Related posts: Škoda reveals the Citigo Škoda MissionL concept Škoda Vision D at Geneva

The Holden Volt has been revealed at a media event in Sydney, Australia. Essentially a re-badged version of Chevrolet’s extended range electric vehicle, sales are expected to begin in late 2012. Estimated range from its lithium-ion battery pack when driving in pure electric mode is a decent 80 km (50 miles). After that, the Volt’s petrol engine kicks in to act as an onboard generator that recharges the batteries and provides power to the electric drive system. And therein lies the Holden’s USP - its Voltec drivetrain offers the environmental and running cost benefits of an electric car, but without any range anxiety. Alternatively, the Volt can be recharged using a domestic 240V socket, a process which takes around four hours. So, with the right journey patterns and driving conditions, it should be possible to make the need to refuel with petrol a very rare occurrence. According to Mike Devereux, Holden Chairman and Managing Director, “Volt is the no compromise electri

The North American-specification Fiat 500 has not done particularly well in its National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash tests, being awarded just three out of a possible five stars. Although respectable four-star grades were achieved for both the rollover and 35 mph frontal impact tests, the Fiat’s overall mark was pulled down by a two-star side crash rating. However, it’s important to note that that was primarily due to a poor rear-seat occupant score in the side barrier impact assessment. By contrast, the car’s ability to protect front-seat occupants in the same test was deemed good enough to earn it five stars. Three stars were awarded for the side pole impact evaluation. With full NHTSA appraisals for models such as the Mini Cooper and Smart fortwo still to be published, it’s too early to gauge how safe the Fiat 500 is compared to its competition. Related posts: North American 500 Abarth 2012 Fiat 500 Pink Ribbon North American Fiat 500C American

Nissan has confirmed the details of its circuit-focussed, road legal, 2012 GT-R Track Pack edition. Compared to the regular version, the suspension set-up features stiffer springs, gloss black six-spoke Rays alloy wheels have been fitted and there are additional ducts front and rear to help keep the brakes cool. On the inside, Recaro front seats come trimmed in a special high-grip fabric, while the rear seats have been chucked out to save a few kilograms. No changes have been made to the 3.8 litre twin-turbo engine, but a combination of its 542 bhp (404 kW / 550 PS) and the GT-R Track Pack’s weight reduction means the claimed 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time is a mere 2.7 seconds. The GT-R Track Pack will only be available in certain right-hand drive markets such as the UK and Japan. In the UK, its price has been set at £84,450 - exactly £10,000 more than the normal 2012 GT-R. Nissan is planning to begin customer deliveries in March 2012. Related posts: Nissan Juke Nismo Concept

Taiwan doesn’t have much of a reputation for building mid-size saloons, and the Luxgen brand is probably unknown to most people. Two fairly significant disadvantages then, but nevertheless the company is ambitiously planning to sell its new 5 Sedan globally following a debut at the 2012 Taipei Auto Show. To give an idea of how large the 5 Sedan is, its wheelbase is 2,720 mm (8’ 11”) - about the same as that of a Vauxhall / Opel Insignia or the Hyundai i40. And the Luxgen isn’t bad looking at all, although the claim that the proportions give it a ‘coupe-like silhouette’ is perhaps stretching things a bit too far. What could help set the Taiwanese model apart from its competition are the various pieces of technology on-board. Key among these is the THINK+ Touch system, which has been developed with smartphone maker hTC and runs the Android operating system. Based around a central 9” touch screen, it controls various multimedia, communication and navigation functions. Several