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Toyota has now sold over 7 million hybrids

You take your victories where you can. In Toyota's case, that means disclosing the cumulative total of hybrid sales since the first Prius was sold in Japan in 1997. And that number is impressive. During its monthly conference call discussing sales, Toyota representatives noted that the automaker has sold over 7 million hybrids during the past 17 years. The Japanese automaker started selling the Prius in the Japan in 1997 (and in US in 2000) and firmly established itself as the world's largest hybrid maker. Today, Toyota sells four Prius models as well as gas-electric versions of the Camry, Avalon and Highlander in the US. Of course, such big sales aren't always easy to match, and Toyota's been lagging behind 2013's numbers all year. Including its Lexus division, Toyota's green-car sales including the low-volume RAV4 electric vehicle fell 10 percent from a year earlier in September to just over 21,000 vehicles. Through the first three quarters of the year, Toyota's green-car sales were down 9.1 percent to almost 247,000 vehicles. That still dwarfs any other automakers' green-car numbers. Toyota crossed the 6 million hybrid threshold in January when it doubled the 3 million total from March 2011. Toyota will start selling its first mass-produced hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle in Europe next summer, and hopes that it will repeat the long-term success that the Prius has enjoyed, according to Automotive News Europe. For a transcript of the September sales call, click here.

Fiat 500X takes the blue pill

The Fiat 500 keeps getting bigger. Ron Arad aptly pointed out that much with his special-edition hatchback, but even in its modern incarnation, it just keeps growing: from the three-door hatch to the five-seat 500L, the ruggedized 500L Trekking, the seven-seat 500L Living and now the long-awaited 500X. Sure, it may be smaller than most crossovers, but it's positively huge by Cinquecento standards - a good third larger than the original whose spirit it embodies.
So how did Fiat make it grow? We'll give you a hint, Morpheus: it didn't take the red pill. As if it doesn't itself know, Fiat puts forward this possible explanation that's worth a watch... if you can make it through the first borderline-NSFW scene without puking. All we'll say is that the sexual suggestiveness of the 500 Abarth ad with Catrinel Menghia was a bit more palatable.

Chrysler calling in 1,912 Vipers over airbag sensors

A recall of less than 2,000 units wouldn't ordinarily factor on our radar screens. But then the Viper is no ordinary car.
Chrysler has announced that it has discovered a problem with the sensor that is tasked with determining the seat position on SRT Vipers covering the 2013 and 2014 model years and manufactured between November 28, 2012, and June 26, 2014.
In the affected vehicles, the sensor may think the seat is positioned closer to the airbag than it actually is, therefor decreasing the velocity at which the airbag would be deployed in the event of a crash and offer less protection than designed. Chrysler emphasizes that it is unaware of any injuries or accidents resulting from this issue.

Next Buick Regal to inherit styling cues from Opel Monza concept

Ever look at a concept car from a foreign auto marque like Opel and wonder what relevance it will have to you as an American consumer? Well, we'll tell you: at least as far as the Opel Monza concept goes, it could mean a lot.
Speaking with Automotive News at the Paris Motor Show, Opel chief Karl-Thomas Neumann said, "You will see the Monza when you see the next Insignia." And the Insignia, we needn't point out, is essentially ported over to American showrooms as the Buick Regal.
The relationship between the Regal and Insignia only stands to grow closer as Opel design chief Mark Adams has also been charged with tightening the bonds between the two automakers positioned on opposite shores of the Atlantic. Adams also intends to imbue the next Insignia with more "premium brand values" in order to "add polish to the brand." Which in turn means that the Regal will be designed to look more upscale, too.

Chrysler Town & Country plug-in hybrid minivan coming in 2015

Among the multitude of models that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announced as part of its five-year production plan in May was a plug-in hybrid version of the Town & Country minivan for sometime in 2016. However, according to the latest pronouncement from company CEO Sergio Marchionne, that timetable may have been moved forward quite a bit.
Marchionne told Automotive News at the Paris Motor Show that the PHEV minivan would now be launching in late 2015. That strategy does seem a bit confusing, though, because the next-gen platform for the T&C isn't supposed to hit the road until sometime in 2016, according to the plan. So it's not clear whether the boss means the PHEV rides on the current chassis or if the new model is going on sale early.
The technology underpinning the new plug-in hybrid has been shrouded in mystery. However, during the five-year plan meeting, FCA claimed the model could earn fuel economy figures around 75 mpge. Chrysler previously tested a 25-unit fleet of them as part of a demonstration test in Auburn Hills, MI, in 2012, but that didn't go so well.

Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series already planned

Typically when Mercedes-Benz releases a new model, we only expect it to be a matter of time before the AMG performance version follows. The thing is that with Benz's new sports car already wearing the AMG badge and boasting as much as 503 horsepower in S trim, what would the German automaker even call an even more extreme version of the new Mercedes-AMG GT?
Black Series, that's what. Speaking to AMG chief Tobias Moers at the launch of the GT in Paris last week, Evo reports that a more extreme version is definitely in the cards. "Sooner or later," said Moers, "there will be a Black Series version," and it will be faster and sharper than the existing model. Just how much faster and sharper - or for that matter, when it will arrive - we don't know, but Evo predicts it won't be before 2018. By that time we can expect additional variants to include a convertible as well.
For those unfamiliar, the Black Series label is what AMG assigns to its most extreme performance models. It typically reserves the treatment strictly for two-door models, historically applying it the likes of the SLK, SL, SLS, CLK and C-Class coupe with enhancements affected to the engine, suspension, brakes, aero... the usual, making an already powerful and quick performance machine even more so. Expect the same of the upcoming Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, whenever it arrives.

2015 Jeep Cherokee finds a bit more fuel mileage thanks to stop/start and aero tweaks

Just a year after it burst onto the scene, Jeep has already made a pretty substantial addition to its V6-powered Cherokee, which has proven to be an extremely popular seller so far for the brand, adding a new stop-start system for the midsize, off-road-ready CUV.
The addition of stop-start included a few aerodynamic tweaks to the Cherokee's polarizing body, resulting in a wallet-pleasing increase in fuel economy. According to the EPA, the front-drive, V6-powered Jeep will now return 21 miles per gallon in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, up from 19 city and 28 highway. Four-wheel-drive, V6-powered Cherokees, meanwhile, will now return 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, up from 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg.
With 271 horsepower, 239 pound-feet of torque and these newly enhanced figures, it's refreshing to see a larger, naturally aspirated engine that is still able to take the fight to today's crop of small-displacement, turbocharged four-cylinders.

Chrysler discontinuing Viper GTS-R motorsports program

Well, it was fun while it lasted. Chrysler has pulled the plug on its Viper GTS-R racing program. The final outing for the two-car Viper GTLM team in the United SportsCar Championship was last weekend's Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.
"Our company has made a business decision to discontinue the SRT Motorsports Dodge Viper GTS-R racing program," Chrysler's Ralph Gilles said in a statement.
The move to end the Viper racing program can't really be blamed on results. SRT tied with Porsche for the manufacturer's crown, while its two cars finished the inaugural season in first and third, besting the likes of Corvette Racing, Risi Competizione and Porsche's North American factory team.

Terrifying rally crash is shockingly non-lethal

Going to most races means watching the action from behind a fence or from high up on grandstands, but rallying often gives spectators the chance to get closer to the competition than practically any other forms of motorsport. If people are willing to put themselves in danger, they're able to sit right at a corner exit and watch the cars hurtling toward them. However, the Jolly Rally al Colle San Carlo in Italy got a lot less jolly recently, when an out of control vehicle nearly struck a group of onlookers.
The incident occurred when a racer in a Renault Clio came into a corner too quickly and turned the embankment along the side of the road into a ramp that launched the vehicle into the group. Somehow, these folks got away with incredible luck; according to Euro Sport none of them were seriously harmed in the crash, including the woman sprayed with debris towards the end of the video. The Clio was clearly toast, though, with a wheel missing and the rear hatch caved in.
Check out the video and wonder how any of these spectators made it out alive, let alone unharmed.

Buick Envision to go on sale in third quarter of 2015

Following an earlier concept and successive teasers, Buick revealed the new Envision crossover a little over a month ago. The thing is, it was launched in China, for China. The question, then, is whether it will make the jump to the North American market. And the answer is: quite possibly.
According to division sales chief Duncan Aldred in speaking to Edmunds, Buick is looking into the prospect of bringing the Envision to the US: "We can't confirm anything, but clearly it is a very nicely designed and executed product that is very much a Buick," said Aldred.
If and when the compact crossover would appear in US showrooms, it would slot in between the smaller Encore and the larger Enclave. It would likely be offered in front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and mild hybrid configurations. Sources expect it to arrive in the third quarter of 2015 as a competitor to the likes of the Mercedes GLA, Lexus NX and Lincoln MKC.

Jeep Wrangler's shift to aluminum could see production leave Toledo

The Jeep Wrangler may be a timeless design, but sooner or later, time will run out and Chrysler will have to replace it with a newer model more friendly towards the earth it's designed to traverse. That will, it seems, mean a shift to aluminum construction (whether just for the body or for the entire structure) - but what will that mean for the Wrangler's long-time home of Toledo, OH?
According to the latest pronouncements from Fiat Chrysler chief Sergio Marchionne, the shift to an aluminum Wrangler would likely mean moving production out of Toledo. "If the solution is aluminum," Marchionne told Automotive News, "then I think unfortunately Toledo is the wrong place, the wrong setup to try and build a Wrangler, because it requires a complete reconfiguring of the assets that would be cost-prohibitive."
Marchionne also indicated that, were Wrangler production to move elsewhere, it would find another line to take its place in Ohio. "One of the thing that we are dealing with now is what else we do with Toledo that fulfills our commitment to the city and to Ohio. I don't have a doubt that there will be zero impact on head count and employment levels and anything else." Jeep has built the Wrangler in Toledo since World War II, with the exception of six years starting in 1986 when it was built in Brampton, Ontario. The complex dates back to 1910 and currently produces the Wrangler and Cherokee. Past products have included the Wagoneer and Commanche as well as the Dodge Dakota and Nitro.

Top five 2014 Paris Motor Show debuts

While certainly not as bountiful as this year's Geneva Motor Show, the year's second big European expo in Paris proved to be an immensely busy couple of days for our team. We covered 57 unveilings in total (see them all, here), and now that we're back home in the good ol' USA, it's time to reflect and pick our favorites from what debuted over in France.
As always, this list doesn't necessarily reflect a vehicle's overall importance to the market, a specific segment, and so on. Instead, we're choosing from our cheese-and-wine-filled guts, focusing on what caught our eyes as being the most unique, interesting, or show-stopping.
So, what made the cut? Have a look below to read about our five favorite debuts from the 2014 Paris Motor Show.

Cadillac CT6 to be lighter than CTS, get PHEV model

Cadillac is suddenly one of the most talked about automakers in the US with Johan de Nysschen taking control. The brand claims that it eventually wants to become, once again, the standard of the world. One of the first vehicles to actually prove whether that's possible is its upcoming CT6 flagship sedan. We still don't know what the production version looks like undisguised, but other important details are falling into place. The latest big news sheds some light on the Caddy's powertrain and some estimates of its weight and size.
General Motors product chief Mark Reuss dropped the details at the automaker's Global Business Conference. According to The Detroit News, he revealed that the CT6 would use a twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and a plug-in hybrid would be an additional option. He reportedly claimed it would be the most "powerful six-cylinder gas engine in the segment" and said the hybrid could get around 70 miles per gallon.
Reuss also revealed that the CT6 would be about 53 pounds lighter than the current CTS, despite being about 8 inches longer, according to The Detroit News. If that's the case, the new flagship is about 203.5-inches long, which is 1.5-inches more than the XTS.

Race Recap: 2014 Japanese Grand Prix is wet, woebegone

Typhoon Phanfone made landfall in Japan on Sunday, causing a slow start to a very wet and strategy-heavy race, all of it overshadowed by the race-ending injury to Marussia driver Jules Bianchi.
Before that, Nico Rosberg made the most of two days of dry running, leading two of the three Free Practice sessions and getting his Mercedes AMG Petronas onto pole. Teammate Lewis Hamilton had been faster around the circuit in FP2, but a crash in FP2 and mistakes at the hairpin in qualifying seemed to remove him from his groove, leaving him in second place. The two Williams of Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa were next but couldn't get within 0.6 seconds of Rosberg's time. Fernando Alonso put the first Ferrari in fifth, followed by Daniel Ricciardo in the first Infiniti Red Bull Racing and Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button in the two McLarens. Sebastian Vettel took ninth for Infiniti Red Bull Racing, while Kimi Räikkönen nabbed the last top ten spot for Ferrari.
For the first time all weekend, the clouds rolled in on Sunday morning, and they still haven't lifted.

Price cut boosts Dodge Viper sales dramatically

It may go without saying that slashing the price on a new car - especially one this enticing - would only serve to boost sales. But in case you needed hard evidence, look no further than the Dodge Viper.
Last month Chrysler announced it was chopping a solid $15k off the price of a new Viper, dropping the MSRP of a base model to under $85k, the Viper TA to just over $100k and the top-of-the-line GTS to under $108k. The result has been more than a doubling in sales: According to Yahoo! Autos, Dodge sold 108 Vipers last month, which emerged as the best results the model has racked up in its current iteration. This compared to only 38 units sold in August, 48 in July and 36 in June - or, for year-to-year comparison, just 45 units in September 2013.
The sales initiative - which also saw recent buyers compensated with a $15k voucher towards the purchase of a new Viper - came in response to lagging sales. Back in March, with sales plummeting and stock piling up, Chrysler idled the Conner Avenue plant that builds the Viper. It then extended the shut-down in July for another few weeks. But with production back online, prices adjusted and sales picking up, hopefully we'll have seen the last hiccup in the life of one of America's finest performance machines - especially with the MY2015 enhancements in store.

Ex-Toyota Bill Reinert still in favor of hybrids, against EVs

Former Toyota executive Bill Reinert is so unsold on electric vehicles as a viable advanced-powertrain option for future transportation that he has praised – gasp – Ford, for its downsized internal combustion engines. Reinert was a key player in developing Toyota's original Prius hybrid and, in an interview published in Yale University's Environment 360 blog, said a hybrid that gets 60 miles per gallon is superior to an electric vehicle. "And that is why you will be seeing more fuel cells in the future." – Bill Reinert Reinert went on to praise the advances that automakers have made in improving fuel economy of fossil fuel vehicles, specifically namechecking Ford and its three-cylinder Ecoboost engine. He also has good things to say about both hydrogen fuel-cell electric technology as well as natural gas vehicles, but admits that limited fueling infrastructure will keep those types of vehicles in the margins for the near future. He also says that hydrogen vehicles aren't that great yet but that, "When most [manufacturers] investigate the two technologies [H2 and EVs], they see that FVCs offer more room for performance improvement and cost reduction potential. And that is why you will be seeing more fuel cells in the future." As far as pure electric, Reinert says lithium-ion batteries have "tremendous shortcomings" and talks about battery degradation, substandard performance in hot weather and, of course, limited single-charge driving range. He also says that people need to factor in the environmental impact of producing electricity for the grid to fully gauge how environmentally beneficial EVs can be. We'd like to take him and Tesla Motors Chief Elon Musk to what we think would be a spirited lunch. You can read the whole interview with Reinert here.

New Mini Cooper only just now being delivered due to EPA certification

The Mini brand and its products have typically been a runaway success for BMW, but sales of the retro hatchback dropped a drastic 20.5 percent last month, and have been doing such pretty much all year.
The reason, according to Jalopnik, is that the new model has been held up due to EPA certification. Mini told our compatriots, "Sales have dropped because our supply has been so limited. MY 2015 Mini Hardtops have also not been able to go on sale pending the final results of federal fuel economy certification."
Mini goes on to clarify that "as of October 1st, three out of the four 2015 Mini Hardtop 2 door models, the Cooper with manual transmission, the Cooper with automatic transmission, and the Cooper S with manual transmission, have been released for retail sales and deliveries."

Feds Probe Power Steering In 938,000 Ford Midsize Cars

U.S. safety regulators are investigating complaints that the power-assisted steering can suddenly fail on three Ford midsize car models. The probe covers 938,000 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ cars from the 2010 through 2012 model years, as well as the 2010 and 2011 Mercury Milan. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it has received 508 complaints alleging that the cars lost power-assisted steering, causing increased steering effort. Four complaints say the problem caused crashes, but no injuries were reported. The agency says in documents posted Monday on its website that in many cases, a warning message appeared as the failure happened. Restarting the car corrected the problem in some cases, but the problem returned in others. The agency says it will check the scope and frequency of a problem. It could seek a recall. Ford says it's cooperating with the probe. Shares of Ford Motor Co. rose 6 cents to $14.65 in morning trading Monday. Its shares are down 14 percent over the past year. Related Gallery Our Favorite Hot And Sporty Cars For 2015 Recalls Ford Lincoln NHTSA Ford Motor Company power steering mercury milan investigation

Average Bugatti owner has 84 cars, 3 jets, 1 yacht

Between Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley and Bugatti, the Volkswagen Group has no lack of prestige marques under its umbrella. And while some of these marques may produce models that compete against each other, each seems to be profitable enough in its own right to justify its existence. But what about Bentley and Bugatti? Surely these marques cater to the same customers, right?
Not according to their shared CEO. "The clientele between Bentley and Bugatti is remarkably different," said Wolfgang Dürheimer in an interview with Bloomberg. "The Bentley customer on average owns 8 cars. The average Bugatti customer has about 84 cars, 3 jets and 1 yacht."
That may be a slight exaggeration (we'd have expected three yachts and one jet), but it puts things into perspective: Bentleys are for the one percent. Bugattis are for the one percent of that one percent. Which only goes to show why it's taken Bugatti over eight years to sell 450 Veyrons - a number of units it would take Bentley about two weeks to move, albeit at about one tenth the price.

Ford GT to be revived, Le Mans battle upcoming

Ford dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1966 to 1969, scoring four consecutive wins. Wouldn't it be great if the Blue Oval could go back to France for the 50th anniversary of that performance and show it can still compete in international endurance racing? Actually, the latest rumors indicate that could be exactly the case, and the car taking that checkered flag could be another revival of the Ford GT.
As the rumblings go, Ford wants to use a new supercar to take another crack at Le Mans, after considering some other possible alternatives. Substantiating these musings are reports that a Blue Oval rep was reportedly on hand for a recent meeting about 2016 GTE-Class rules, according to Road and Track. That would put the new GT in the same racing class as the Corvette, Ferrari 458 Italia, Porsche 911 and others.
It's not all about racing, though. If you win on Sunday, you want something to be able to sell on Monday. The revived GT is reportedly still a mid-engine supercar, but the exact engine is unclear. It's possible that it could even be shown or announced at the Detroit auto show in January, according to Motor Trend.

GM recalls 61k more vehicles in three campaigns

Following a stop-delivery order for its new midsize trucks and a rash of recent recalls, General Motors is issuing three more campaigns covering 60,575 vehicles in North America with 57,182 of them in the US. As of October 1, the automaker has issued a total of 74 recalls (see the ridiculously long chart to the right) this year covering 26,495,070 units in the US.
The largest campaign covers 46,873 examples in the US of the 2008-2009 Pontiac G8 and 2011-2013 Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle imported from Australia. It's possible for the driver's knee to hit the key and make it move from the "Run" to "ACC" position while driving. GM says its Holden division is developing a fixed-blade key that's supposed to fix the problem by only allowing it to rotate toward the "On" position. There has been one crash caused by this fault but no injuries or fatalities.
The second recall is for 10,005 units of the 2004-2007 Cadillac CTS-V and 2006-2007 Cadillac STS-V because "the fuel pump module electrical terminal may overheat." This can cause a flange to melt and allow the pump to leak fuel. GM specifies that the remedy for the CTS-V is replacing the fuel module and fuel tank jumper harness, but it doesn't specify how the STS-V is being repaired.

Hennessey unleashes 2015 HPE700 supercharged Ford Mustang

Thanks to the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat there is a new magic number in the muscle car world - 707. To raise eyebrows these days in the power war, a vehicle needs to match or preferably exceed that palindromic figure. The tuners over at Hennessey took a look at it for their 2015 HPE700 Mustang and decided to go one better. Well, ten actually, because they bestowed their latest creation with 717 horsepower and 632 pound-feet of torque.
The HPE 700 Mustang takes the standard Mustang GT with its 5.0-liter V8 and turns up the power a few hundred notches with a Roots-type supercharger running at 7.25 psi. Hennessey claims that this boosted 'Stang can rocket to 60 miles per hour in about 3.6 seconds and cover the quarter-mile in 11.2 seconds at 131 mph. For those keeping score at home, those figures are very similar to Challenger Hellcat.
To cope with all of the added boost, the engine gets a high-flow throttle body, upgraded injectors, new fuel pump, stainless steel exhaust and Hennessey's calibration for the engine management. Pricing for the package is $59,500, including the base 2015 Mustang GT, but the company is limiting production to 500 units for the 2015 model year. Founder John Hennessey told Autoblog that he has already received about a dozen orders for them.

Meet the inventor of the first dune buggy, the Meyers Manx

"I think the message of the car is fun."
So says Bruce Meyers, the man who invented the Meyers Manx, which you may more readily recognize as the dune buggy. Based upon the humble underpinnings of the long-running, air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle, the Manx offers beauty in the form of simplicity. Its tub-like fiberglass shell sits on a rolling chassis that houses trailing-link suspension that allows it to travel on smooth roads, rough roads and no roads, and it stands as an icon of the Swingin' 60s, as does its creator.
Want to hear how the original Meyers Manx dune buggy came to be out of the mouth of the man who spawned it? Of course you do.

Ferrari developing V-twin motorcycle engine?

When we read reports that Ferrari had applied for a patent on a V-twin engine design, our first thought was to check the date: this says the first of October, right... not April? And so here we are, entertaining the notion that Ferrari could be developing a motorcycle engine.
The report comes from Autocar, which claims to have dug up the application to patent the design for an "internal combustion engine having two cylinders, which are arranged in a 'V' configuration." In other words, a motorcycle engine. The application reportedly goes on to describe a balancing shafts to reduce vibration. Our own research did not lead us to find the application in question, so we'll have to take it with a grain of salt for the moment. But supposing it's all on the up and up, and that Ferrari was actually developing a motorcycle engine. Would that be so out of the ordinary?
Well, yes and no. Parent company Fiat, which is taking increased direct control of Ferrari, is undoubtedly looking at rival Volkswagen and its recent acquisition of Ducati (putting it in close proximity to Lamborghini) and would be keen to get in on that action. However tenuous the relationship, Lotus has also recently authorized a motorcycle bearing its name. And of course automakers like BMW and Honda, with which Ferrari has competed on and off the race track, also make motorcycles.

Sebastian Vettel to leave Infiniti Red Bull at end of 2014

Things are going to look very different in the Formula 1 paddock come 2015. Official word came down from Infiniti Red Bull Racing that Sebastian Vettel, who won four driver's titles while with the energy-infused fizzy drink and marketing company, will be leaving the team after the 2014 season comes to an end. Taking Vettel's well-worn seat at Red Bull will be Daniil Kvyat, who will join Daniel Ricciardo for 2015. Feel free to read that official announcement below.
While no official announcement has yet been made, rumors swirl that Sebastian Vettel will drive for Ferrari in 2015, taking the place of Fernando Alonso, who many believe will end up at McLaren, which itself is in line for a major driver and team shakeup next year as it switches to Honda power. It's not clear where the rest of the current crop of F1 drivers will land, but as this first blockbuster domino falls into place, expect the rest to fall in line in the coming weeks and months.

GM, Isuzu shacking up on global midsize pickup development

General Motors and Isuzu might not be financial partners anymore, but it would seem that all those years working together still leaves a strong bond between them to work on new vehicles. Their latest collaboration is co-developing a next-generation midsize pickup to launch at a still-unannounced point in the future. Potential buyers of the upcoming Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon have no reason to fear their purchase becoming obsolete, though, because there are no plans to sell these jointly created models in North America. As part of the deal, GM and Isuzu have already agreed to share components across the trucks and purchase the parts together to get a better deal, according to Reuters. However, the actual manufacturing was agreed to be kept separate. The first inklings of this deal cropped up a year ago when the two automakers signed a memorandum of understanding to co-develop a new pickup. The future GM and Isuzu models are joining the mini-boom of midsize trucks that is about to hit around the world. Nissan already announced its latest Navara, and Toyota was spotted testing replacements for both the Hilux and Tacoma. Plus, Honda has hinted at a new Ridgeline sometime fairly soon in the US. News Source: ReutersImage Credit: Mark Renders / Getty Images Plants/Manufacturing GM Isuzu Truck

Weekly Recap: Ram doubles down on diesels

Chrysler now expects about 20 percent of Ram 1500s will be sold with the EcoDiesel engine for the 2015 model year.
Chrysler is ramping up production of the EcoDiesel engine for the Ram 1500, as consumer demand has far outstripped availability. Chrysler now expects about 20 percent of Ram 1500s will be sold with the EcoDiesel engine for the 2015 model year.

Citroen presents new C3-XR crossover for China

At its flagship showroom on the swank Avenue des Champs-Elysées in Paris, Citroën revealed the new C3-XR. The compact crossover joins the C3 range alongside the five-door hatch and C3 Picasso minivan, but is targeted specifically at the Chinese market.
The C3-XR closely follows the lead set by the C-XR concept presented in Beijing earlier this year, with a higher riding stance than the conventional C3 and a more robust design. Details are few and far between, but the French automaker confirms that it will be launched with a gasoline-burning 1.6-liter turbo four with 160 horsepower and stop/start system mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox.
The new model launches at the end of the year in China, a market which accounts for a quarter of all the brand's sales and where it has already introduced such dedicated models as the C-Elysée and C4 L. The launch today in Paris coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and China.

Citroen C1 Urban Ride imagines a more rugged city car

The French auto brands certainly haven't been afraid to display a plethora of concepts at the 2014 Paris Motor Show. We've seen everything from the imagined future of CUVs to a very weird looking hatchback. Citroën is adding one more to the tally with its C1 Urban Ride that tries to make a European city car look a bit more rugged, highlighting the model's customization potential in the process.
Whether the concept succeeds at tough-looking goal is up for debate, but the Urban Ride has its suspension lifted a whole 0.6 inches, with a 0.4-inch wider track. To show off its aspirations, the front bumper, wheel arches and side sills all get some black cladding for claimed protection, and there's a set of black wheels, too. The rest of the concept gets some eye-popping yellow paint.
There are actually two versions of the Urban Ride on display - the 5-door hardtop and the Airscape (pictured above) with a retracting roof. Citroën is taking votes at the show to see which one people like more. Scroll down to read more about this rugged little hatch concept.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Concept-S shows what a facelift can do [w/video]

Sometimes you need a second chance to get things right. Technologically, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a pretty cool vehicle, with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and additional electric motors providing more thrust. However, the CUV never really looked the part for all of its innovation. The Mitsubishi designers are taking another crack with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Concept-S at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, and the vehicle shows what a massive improvement some tweaks can make.
The most obvious of these changes is the completely different front end with a more vertical design. The headlights are reshaped with LED running lights outlining them, and the new airdam that puts a massive X right on the front grille in black and chrome with some more LEDs down below. The designers don't stop there and have a major revision to the rear with taillights running all the way across. Inside, there's black wood grain trim and leather seats.
The update takes the CUV from boring to somewhat exciting, and the even better news is that some of these updates might make it to a rumored refresh in 2016 that could even come here. Scroll down to watch Mitsubishi's teaser video for the Concept-S with more views of it and the company's full press release.