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Nissan Versa 2012 keeps cheapest car in the U.S. status

The 2012 Nissan Versa, equipped with a standard transmission, air conditioning, electronic stability control and AM/FM/CD/AUX stereo, is the cheapest car in the United States for the second straight year and is priced at $10,990. The 2012 model year marks the first time a new car is available in the United States for less than $10,000. For 2011, the base models of the Nissan Versa and Hyundai Accent, both categorized as subcompacts, were both priced at less than $10,000. The increase of $1,000 for the base Nissan Versa in 2012 reflects two items: air conditioning wasn’t standard in the 2011 model. Additionally, government regulations now require that new cars are equipped with electronic stability control. The 2012 Nissan Versa is

Celebrity Cars

Kim Kardashian dumps Range Rover for Ferrari Italia 458

If celebrities and superstars — Michael Jordan to Ralph Lauren and Eric Clapton to Nicolas Cage own Ferraris — then Kim Kardashian has to own one, too, right? According to the online site of X17, the celebrity photo agency, Kardashian recently traded in her Range Rover SUV for a white Ferrari 458 Italia. The much-revered Ferrari can accelerate from 0-60 mph in about three seconds and has a top speed of 202 mph. The site reported Kardashian bought the customized Ferrari for $300,000 with the specialty work completed by Platinum Motorsports, a custom shop that caters to celebrities. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly

Infiniti M, 2012: Luxury hybrid sedan no longer oxymoron

The 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid may be the first hybrid that simultaneously features some of most advanced technology in the "green" industry while also eliminating many of the cumbersome traits of the expanding automotive segment. Infiniti, of course, is a luxury brand and the new hybrid M with its plush interior, stylish wood trim and sculpted interior and exterior designs only adds to the manufacturer's reputation. Speed was rarely mentioned in hybrids a few years ago, but now it seems important. And that's another big plus for the Infiniti Hybrid M. With its 360 horsepower engine, the four-door season now holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s fastest accelerating full hybrid. It covers the standing quarter mile in 13.9031

Electric and Hybrid

Chevy Volt gets coveted Consumer Reports recommendation

The Chevrolet Volt has received a recommendation from Consumer Reports magazine adding to the growing list of honors for General Motors' plug-in car, described by the carmaker as a "range-extended electric vehicle." The Volt has also been named Motor Trend Car of the Year and North American Car of the Year. Consumer Reports, highly regarded, anonymously purchases all the cars it tests from dealers rather than using cars provided by manufacturers. The magazine does not accept advertising. The magazine tests cars at its Connecticut track as well as on roads. To be "Recommended" a car must perform well in several tests and must be deemed to have at least average "predicted reliability." "Predicted reliability" is based on surveys taken by

Pickup Trucks

Toyota Tundra, 2012: Simplified technology, more variety

The 2012 Toyota Tundra features simplified option package selections as well as enhancements throughout the lineup, including a standard back-up camera available in the Limited and TRD Rock Warrior editions. The Tundra offers three engine choices, a 270-horsepower 4.0-liter V6, a 310-horsepower 4.6-liter V8 and the 5.7-liter V8 with 381 horsepower. For 2012, all Tundras have standard heavy-duty battery, heavy-duty starter, windshield wiper de-icer, daytime running lights (DRL), front and rear mudguards, and heated, power, outside mirrors. All Tundra grade models feature standard styled steel wheels for 2012. The Tundra DoubleCab and CrewMax models offer an optional Chrome Package that includes chromed exhaust top, side mirrors, door handles and chrome-clad 18-inch steel wheels. The 2012 Tundra is offered in two

Luxury cars

Lexus announces 2012 limited special edition models

Lexus has announced the details of option packages offered and pricing for its Special Edition models of the the 2012 LS 460, ES 350 and CT 200h The MSRPs for the respective new models: LS 460 Sport Special Edition ($77,000), ES 350 Touring Edition ($40,475) and 2012 CT 200h F Sport Special Edition ($37,995). The CT 200h Special Edition will arrive at dealerships in October and the LS and ES Special Editions will arrive in November. Production of the Special Edition models will be limited to 250 units of the LS Sport Special Edition, 2,000 units of the ES 350 Touring Edition and 900 units of the CT 200h F Sport Special Edition. To receive The Weekly Driver newsletter via

Economy cars, Automotive Reviews

Fiat 500, 2012: Small, cute, fun and still Italian — sort of

After a 37-year absence, the 2012 Fiat 500, the Italian subcompact, marks its return to North America with its new business relationship with Chrysler. First offered in Italy in 1957, the 2012 Fiat 500 (Cinquecento in Italian) is reminiscent of its deceased sibling and is currently available as a 2-door hatchback or 2-door convertible and with a high-performance Abarth model awaiting for 2012. Like its predecessor, the Fiat features a small engine (1.4-liter, 4-cylinder and 101-horsepower) with a short-shifting, five-speed manual transmission. What the Fiat lacks in speed, the manufacturer has more the compensated for with a host of standard features and personality. The trim levels have the unique names of Pop, Lounge and Sport. A five-speed manual transmission is

Electric and Hybrid

Honda Civic Natural Gas 2012: more states for October debut

Honda has announced the 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas will have an MSRP starting prices of $26,155 with the manufacturer hoping to expand the only natural gas car made in the United States to 200 dealers across the country. Formerly called the Civic GX, the Natural Gas will go on sale October 18th at dealerships in 38 states. The car, set to be built in Indiana, was previously only available in California, New York, Utah, and Oklahoma. Honda claims the Civic Natural Gas emits almost zero smog-forming particles and is the cleanest internal-combustion vehicle certified by the EPA. It will receive a decal that qualifies for single-occupant access to HOV carpool lanes in several states across the country including California.

Electric and Hybrid

Tesla plans faster model S with 0-60 mph, 4.5 second speed

Tesla has announced it's making a faster sport edition on the Model S, the already quick luxury electric sedan, according to company CEO Elon Musk. The new Model S, according the company literature released in Fremont, California, the sport model will accelerate 0-60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds, more than one second faster than the current model. The sport version of the Tesla features the same 85 kilowatt-hour, 300 miles-per-charge battery pack found in the 2012 Model S Signature series. The additional model, complete with enhanced powertrain to cope with the additional current required for faster acceleration, will be available from launch alongside the 120 mile, 230 mile and 300 mile 2012 Model S cars. Tesla says 6,000 buyers

Specialty cars

Senna: Famed F1 driver film in Academy Award pole position

"Senna" is a documentary about Formula One race car driver Ayrton Senna of Brazil, the three-time world titlist who died in a racetrack crash in 1994 at age 34. The film has several edge-of-your-seat driving scenes that alone justified the admission. But like other great sports-themed documentaries ("When We Were Kings" comes to mind) Senna transcends sport. A moviegoer without any knowledge of the top level of auto racing can and likely will appreciate the detailed biography of Senna as a driven driver. The boxing movie examines the personalities of Muhammad Ali and George Foreman and their intense, complicated relationship. Likewise "Senna" is more about the famed Brazilian underneath the racing helmet as well as his rivalry with long-time teammate

Specialty cars

Scion debuts 2012 limited production models in Texas

The Scion 2012 xD Series 4.0 (xD RS 4.0) and xB Series 9.0 (xB RS 9.0) debuted Sept. 29 State Fair of Texas, with limited release models featuring as standard equipment a new Pioneer audio system that features Bluetooth hands-free, streaming audio and HD Radio technology. The two Scions will begin arriving at dealer showrooms in October and the debuting will be available for viewing at the Scion booth at the State Fair of Texas until October 23. The 2012 xD Release Series 4.0 The 2012 xD Release Series 4.0 (xD RS 4.0) comes exclusively in a premium Blizzard Pearl exterior paint and is upgraded with 16-inch alloy wheels finished in a smoked platinum color. Scion will only build 800

Specialty cars

Camaro ZL1, 2012: Rick Hendrick gets No. 1 for $250,000

Several days after the announcement of the public sale of the first production model of the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, more details of the Barrett-Jackson auction in Las Vegas are available. To wit: * Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, a the NASCAR team that employs several drivers, including Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, purchased the car for $250,000; * The proceeds of the sale will benefit the YMCA of Southern Nevada; * Hendrick will take delivery of the 69th ZL1 coupe (to commemorate the 1969 Camaro ZL1, of which only 69 were ever produced) and the only one painted in Carbon Flash Metallic, in winter 2012; * The 2012 ZL1 has a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 with for 580 horsepower

Specialty cars

Dodge Viper blazes to record lap at famed Nurburgring

The Dodge Viper and the Nurburgring Nordschleife track in Germany share iconic but unrelated speed status in the automotive world. Now the famed racetrack and the fastest factory built street legal race car share more. The Dodge Viper SRT10, with its 600HP V10 engine, recently set the record lap time of 7 minutes, 12.13 seconds on the famed 12.9-mile track. ViperExchange sent two new Viper ACR cars from Tomball Dodge in Tomball, Texas to Germany where one was piloted by GT class driver Dominik Farnbacher to the record. The Viper ACR held the record on the track previously with a time of 7:22.1, a record that stood through most of 2011. The Viper ACR holds records at 19 different racetracks

Electric and Hybrid

Ashton Kutcher goes green with Fisker Karma TV role

Ashton Kutcher is a spokesperson for digital cameras, among other products, and the former child actor married to Demi Moore is among the most popular celebrities on Twitter. Now he's also given Fisker Automotive its biggest dose of mainstream exposure. The 2012 Fisker Karma was featured for the first time Sept. 26 in what is scheduled as a recurring role in the newly revamped television program Two And a Half Men. In its supporting role, the Fisker Karma is driven by Kutcher's character, Walden Schmidt. Kutcher replaced Charlie Sheen, who departed the show in controversy last year during his reign as the highest paid actor on television. The Fisker Karma is a plug-in hybrid luxury sports sedan from the Los

Sport Utility Vehicles

Honda CR-V, 2012: Some new, some old for LA debut

The 2012 Honda CR-V, the fourth generation of the best-selling sport utility vehicle in the United States, will debut as a concept at the Orange County International Auto Show and then will debut in its production model at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The 2011 and 2012 models are similar but the new year model has a more angular front end, with a large three-bar grille and more rounded tailgate. Additionally, the vertical taillamps have been will now resemble the design on Civic and Accord models. Although specifications haven't been released, Honda said the 2012 CR-V will be more fuel efficient and weigh less than the current edition. The 2012 edition will also have a redesigned interior. Honda has sold

Specialty cars

Ferrari unveils 458 Spider price: 257K in U.S, 309K in Europe

The Ferrari 458 Spider, which replaces the 430 Spider and features an aluminum retractable hardtop, will be priced at $257,000 in the United States and will be available to the public in January 2012, according to the Italian manufacturer. In Europe, where sales of the car begin in October, the Ferrari 458 Spider will cost 226,800 euros or about $309,000 with current exchange rates. Ferrari customers in Europe also usually spend the equivalent of 15-20 percent on top of the car’s list price to purchase personalization items from the company’s Carrozzeria Scaglietti program. These items include carbon fiber seats ($7,800) and a rearview camera ($3,600). The aluminum top replaces the canvas top offered on its predecessor. Webasto AG supplies the

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