Volkswagen Golf R, 2012: Tease is over, power and panache in new sports car

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Once every four years VW brings over a high performance Golf model to appease the enthusiast crowd and to amp up the Golf's image. The past two iterations of the R32 brought over in 2004 and 2008 were outfitted with a normally aspirated 3.2-liter VR6 6-cylinder engine and AWD. This time VW takes a slightly different track and brings over the Golf R from Europe with more power, better performance and improved fuel economy. After teasing the media and public for months, the Golf R is now available on North American shores in two-door and four-door models, and is rarin'

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Hyundai announces new Sonata planned for 2014

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Hyundai will introduce the first revamped version of its flagship model and top-selling Sonata sedan in four years in 2014, the South Korean manufacturer announced. The latest version of the Sonata was launched in September 2009 in South Korea and early 2010 in the United States. As the world's fifth-largest auto group along with its affiliate Kia Motors, Hyundai's only newly planned model this year is the 2013 Santa Fe. Hyundai had a record sales year in 2011. In addition to the Hyundai Elantra selling more than one million units worldwide, the carmaker had its largest-selling year in the United

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Toyota Prius v, 2012: New hybrid wagon has room and a view

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Introduced in Japan in May 2011 and six months later in the United States, the 2012 Toyota Prius v joins carmaker's four-member hybrid family. The "v" in Prius v stands for versatility. It's an apt description since the Prius v is a family sized, modern-looking hybrid wagon with 50 percent more cargo area than the original Prius. The Prius v is also six inches longer, three inches taller and one inch wider than its globally popular older relative. There are 34.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the seats and 38 inches of leg room. There's also a new rounded

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Chevy Impala 2014, now in 10th generation, set for debut in New York

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The 2014 newly designed Chevrolet Impala, now in its 56th year and 10th generation, will be introduced in April at New York International Auto Show. “The momentum at Chevrolet continues to build with the debut of the the Impala, one of the brand’s most enduring and cherished nameplates,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Global Chevrolet Marketing. “The new Impala further strengthens Chevrolet’s passenger car lineup by giving consumers a full-size sedan that balances the desire for distinction with engaging driving dynamics.” The Impala nameplate was introduced in 1958 and has been one of Chevrolet’s best-selling passenger cars for decades.

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Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid, 2013: First look at newly styled, seven-speed sedan

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The Jetta is Volkswagen's biggest selling model and they want to offer a full compliment of drivetrain options for customers. The fifth drivetrain option for the VW Jetta will be a hybrid version and get a combined 45 mpg, according to preliminary estimates. Now, customers who prefer a European style sedan instead of the Asian and American hybrid offerings, can add the Jetta to their list of green car choices. The 2013 Jetta's hybrid powertrain is built around VW's 1.4L turbocharged gasoline engine and a 27 hp electric motor for a combined output of 170 hp. Transmitting this power will

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Toyota Prius c, 2012: New hybrid's popularity prompts price gouging in Florida

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Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield, who writes for the auto portal High Gear Media, has a story about price gouging for the new and vastly popular 2012 Toyota Prius C, the carmaker's subcompact hybrid. According to the report, a dealership in Coconut Creek, Fla., has taken the concept of inflated sticker prices to an extreme — about one third of the original sticker price. Gordon-Bloomfield was alerted to the situation by a reader who forwarded an image of the extreme price of a Toyota Prius c located at Al Hendrickson Toyota and bearing the words "Market Value Adjustment." Translated, that means price gouging.

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Toyota Camry, 2012: Change is good for U.S. top-selling sedan

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It must be a difficult decision for manufacturers with popular models to substantially change what sells. The Toyota Camry, for example, has been the top-selling sedan in the United States in 13 of the past 14 years. Nevertheless, the seventh-generation Camry debuted in the 2012 edition with vast changes. The standard Toyota Camry, with its 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine, has increased horsepower to 178. Additionally, the use of lower viscosity oil, according to the manufacturer, has helped increase gas mileage averages. Beyond the engine, the exterior and interior designs are new. The exterior lines are sharper and the front fascia and

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Jeremy Lin's new driving move to Volvo in two-year endorsement deal

Volvo, the once prideful wholly Swedish car now owned by Chinese automaker Geely, has signed American Jeremy Lin, the high energy star of the New York Knicks whose parents were born in China, to a global brand endorsement contract. Volvo detailed at a press conference that Lin's participation as a brand ambassador in advertising and marketing campaigns during the next two years will focus on the U.S., China and Chinese-language markets in Asia. "You may not immediately see the connection between me and Volvo, but both of us are striving to be better and smarter at what we do, and

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Buick Verano, 2012: Luxury sedan with good looks, value price

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The Chevrolet Cruze is an unqualified hit on several levels. But can the 2012 Buick Verano, which shares the same platform with the Cruze, be more than a rebadged GM project? For readers who like jumping to the last chapter before reading the whole book, I am not going to spoil the ending, just read on. The Verano is neither a rebadged Euro-market sedan (like the Regal) nor a “pure” Buick design like the LaCrosse. It splits the difference between the two designs, marrying a conservative design with a few discrete Buick cues such as the signature waterfall grille and

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Toyota Prius c, 2012: At less than $20,000 and 53 mpg, it's all the rage

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The 2012 Toyota Prius c was destined to attract a lot of attention. And less than a week into its debut, that’s certainly been the case for the smallest car in the Toyota lineup and the most fuel efficient non-plug-in hybrid in the United States. A starting price of less than $20,000 and the dethroning of its older sibling, the original Toyota Prius, as the country’s most efficient fuel-sipping car hasn’t hurt, either. Add it all up and the Prius c, which debuted at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show as a concept car, is EPA rated at 53 mpg in

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Toyota Prius c, 2012: superior mpg, value price equals strong sales debut

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The 2012 Toyota Prius c, the new five-door, sub-compact hatchback and the smallest in the carmaker's lineup of hybrids, debuted impressively in its first week on the market. In its first three days of sales since its March 12 debut, 1,021 Toyota Prius c models sold in the United States, According to Toyota, that number eclipses the sales totals for the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf in February. "A number of factors drive the auto market, and fuel prices is one of them,” said Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota Division. “With 53 miles-per-gallon

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Hyundai fighting recall of Sonata Hybrid for seatbelt issue

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Hyundai continues its increasingly strong position among carmakers, and it now believes it can do well against a more powerful industry leader — the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). Hyundai has been ordered to recall and replace center rear seat belts in 14,728 Sonata hybrids from model years 2011 and 2012. But the automaker is seeking a review of the recall and is filing for an exemption. The Korean automaker has fixed the issue believed to be a safety concern for 1,633 Sonata Hybrids in its possession. But Hyundai believes there's no further risk for slightly more than 13,000

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Buick LaCrosse, 2012: supple ride, precise steering for new look in old brand

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The full-size Buicks sedans of the 1950s through the early 1970s were stylish, comfortable and had powerful V-8s. They were well-suited to older drivers who bought most of them and mainly drove them on America’s ruler-straight roads. The 2012 LaCrosse sedan is now the largest Buick, although it’s smaller and lighter than those old gas-thirsty Buick land yachts. It comes with front-or all-wheel drive, whereas the old large Buicks had rear-wheel drive. Prices for the new LaCrosse range from $29,960 to $38,270, with all-wheel-drive models starting at $34,070. Even the base LaCrosse is fairly well equipped with comfort, convenience and

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GMC Terrain Denali, 2013: Makeover shines in and out for crossover

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Text/Images By Megan Green The 2013 GMC Terrain Denali, introduced recently in New York (its biggest market), is the smallest of the GMC crossovers and features an updated grille, new headlight and tail lamp configurations and additional interior comforts associated with the Denali trim level. Powertrain Options Two direct injection cast aluminum engines are available — the standard Ecotec 2.4 liter dual overhead cam inline 4-cylinder engine and a new comparatively lighter 3.6 liter V6 with a composite intake and an integrated cylinder head/exhaust manifold. Front wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available with either engine choice. The

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Fiat 500 Abarth, 2012: Scorpi0n edition adds to brand's savvy hot model marketing (video)

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Since its return last fall after nearly a four-decade absence, the Fiat 500 continues to find a steady, niche new market in the United States via its new relationship with Chrysler and several massively popular television commercials. In addition to the three models, Pop, Lounge and Sport, Fiat has several specialty editions, including the recently released Abarth and Gucci, and some further specialized offerings for 2013 currently featured at the Geneva Auto Show. In the Gucci trim, a two-tone style and high-styled badging is offered to reflect the famed designer. And with the much-anticipated Abarth, Fiat is hopeful of vast

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Infiniti M Hybrid, 2012: World’s fastest full hybrid combines performance, economy

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According to Infiniti, the 2012 M Hybrid luxury sedan features the performance of a V8 engine with the fuel economy of a 4-cylinder. If this sounds too good to be true, consider the numbers: Infiniti claims 0 to 60 in well under six seconds, and up to 32 mpg. Could the M Hybrid be the automotive equivalent of having your cake and eating it, too? The M Hybrid, or M35h, utilizes Infiniti’s new Direct Response Hybrid system, the first hybrid system developed fully in-house by Nissan/Infiniti. The system combines a 302 hp 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 7-speed automatic transmission, and

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