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Mercedes CLS is getting a facelift, interior and exterior spied

The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class basically invented the four-door coupe niche when the first generation was unveiled in 2004. While it had less practicality than a traditional sedan, it made up for it with tons of style. The second generation continued the lineage in 2010, albeit with a less bulbous shape than the original. The refresh for the second-gen CLS has been recently spied, with an emphasis on improving the interior and adding new lighting.
The spy photos show off a redesigned front end with a one-bar grille and Mercedes' new Active Multibeam LED headlights. The system monitors what is happening in front of the car 100 times a second and adjusts the light accordingly by manipulating the individual LEDs. There is also an altered rear bumper and modified taillights, if you can make them out through the caked snow.
Mercedes' larger COMAND infotainment screen debuts in the interior and makes the old system look tiny by comparison. COMAND's button layout has also been altered slightly for the new system and has more chrome trim for a bit of bling to go with the new tech. There is also a new multi-function steering wheel to help control it all.

Corvette Stingray probably won't get 8-speed automatic until 2016

There is still no official confirmation from Chevrolet about an eight-speed automatic transmission making its way into the C7 Corvette Stingray, but the Corvette's chief engineer Tadge Juechter seemed to focus on when - not if - the new gearbox would be ready. In a conversation with Auto Guide, Juechter suggested that we might not see the new transmission until 2016 as other Corvette projects continued to be developed.
First up for Chevy engineers is to focus on the all-new 2015 Z06, which is still undergoing final development testing and will be the first to utilize the eight-speed. After that, then Chevy would have more time to calibrate this transmission for use in the Stingray in regards to traction control, launch control, etc. This transmission would likely be used in other Chevy products, including the possibility of the Chevy Silverado.
In the interview, Juechter does give us a hint at just how fun the new gearbox will be in the Corvette (whenever it arrives) as he states that the eight-speed-equipped C7 is "like driving a sports bike."

World's largest toy car collection is in Beirut, and it's remarkable

It's common for auto enthusiasts to have a few miniatures of their favorite cars around their home or office. They provide a respite of happiness knowing that if you can't have the real things, at least you can look at them in miniature. However, Billy Karam of Beirut, Lebanon, has taken collecting toy cars to its extreme. His collection of over 30,000 model cars and 400 dioramas is certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest collection of car toys. "You cannot buy the big ones, so you buy a thousand of the small ones instead," says Karam in the video. Karam is a former amateur racing driver with a weakness for all things Porsche, and many of his dioramas depict races that he drove in or attended. Looking at them gives him a chance to relive the experiences again, but unlike a photo or video, they are right there in three dimensions. Scroll down to watch this astounding Cool Hunting video narrated by the collection's captivating owner. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Cool Hunting Video: World's Largest Toy Car Collection from Cool Hunting on Vimeo. News Source: Cool Hunting via VimeoTip: Reilly Toys/Games Porsche Videos Guinness World Records diecast toy car car collection

Last VW bus ever made arrives at final destination

A Brazilian politician tried to save it, unsuccessfully, so the final Last Edition Volkswagen Type 2 Kombi was produced on December 20, 2013 and now resides in a vintage museum at Volkswagen's Commercial Vehicles HQ in Hanover, Germany.
The Volkswagen Microbus was built for 56 years, starting in September 1957. Brazil was the last country still assembling it, but new safety regulations in the country requiring airbags and ABS on all cars spelled the end. When that politician introduced a bill that would pardon only the 'Bus from a death sentence, it couldn't garner the required number of votes for passage. The South American country takes the Kombi production title, though, with 1.5 million of the 3.5 million total made in the home of Copacabana beach and the girl from Ipanema.
The VW Bus is dead. Now perhaps we can turn our attentions to the still-not-totally-settled matter of the Bulli...

Ford increasing Super Duty production by 15 percent

Ford has announced a hefty $80 million investment in its Kentucky Truck Plant, which is responsible for building the F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 versions of the Super Duty pickup. The influx of cash will add 350 jobs to the factory.
The investment is also good for a 15-percent increase in annual production thanks to retooling and other facility upgrades, which equates to an extra 55,000 units of production. Considering that Ford makes even more money off its Super Duty than it does on the hot-selling F-150, this could mean some serious coin to Ford's bottom line.
Hop below for the full press release from Ford on its latest investment.

All-out lap of 'Ring makes hero car out of diesel Citro?n

Despite what Audi would have you believe, diesel-powered cars aren't generally the best track-day weapons. Similarly, Citroën's successful rally history does not mean all of its cars are tossable, gravel-spewing machines. That makes this maniacal, sub-10-minute lap of the Nürburgring in a woeful Citroën AX diesel all the more impressive.
The unidentified driver has spent seven years looking for what he calls the "perfect lap" of the Ring. That's meant 118 laps of the course spread across 10 different trips from his home in Bordeaux, France, which is nearly 700 miles from the track. And as you can see from the video, these are not conservative laps being run. Braking is optional, and as the driver freely admits, he tends to overdrive the car in some corners. That's because a loss of momentum in the 52-horsepower car could totally ruin the lap.
It shouldn't be a shock, but after all the trips to the Ring, the little Citroën has suffered, chewing through nine engines and five transmissions over the years. The saggy body has necessitated the addition of a strut-tower bar, as well as a new intake to accommodate the strut-tower bar. Ultra-sticky Yokohama Advan A048 tires have also been fitted on the front.

Tina Fey sits down with Seinfeld for new CiCGC

Recently Jerry Seinfeld went out for a videotaped cup of coffee with Jay Leno in a vintage Gmund Porsche. Switching coasts and cars, this time New York's own son returns to his city for a jaunt in a 1967 Volvo 1800S with fellow New Yorker Tina Fey for the latest episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.
The trip takes them uptown to Cuban coffee shop Floridita in Harlem, then back downtown to a pastry shop. On the way, Jerry calls out a photo shoot for using a fake Porsche, and Fey admits she doesn't have a driver's license. Driving cars, she says, "is like Twitter to me." Which she also doesn't do - she lasted seven tweets in 2009.
You can check out the episode below as they go in search of coffee, the rare guanabana/soursop juice, Jerry's even more elusive product placement and the last Cronut in NYC.

Mercedes debuts new V-Class van

According to the automaker, the van you see above is "The Mercedes Among MPVs." That statement is undoubtedly true, because it is indeed both a Mercedes-Benz and an MPV, but also because it's quite likely one of the more luxurious ways to move a bunch of people and their stuff from one place to another, regardless of where that may be.
As many as eight passengers can cram inside the 2014 V-Class, which is available in two wheelbases and three lengths. There are also three engine options, and they are all 2.1-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel units. The V 200, with 136 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, is the base model, followed by a V 220 with 163 hp and 280 lb-ft and a top-level V 250 that offers 190 hp and 325 lb-ft. In top trim, Mercedes claims as much pulling power as its previous V6 turbodiesel while using 28 percent less fuel.
There are four different driving parameters built into the seven-speed automatic transmission: economical, comfortable, sporty and manual. Using that first mode actually reduces power through engine tuning for greater efficiency.

VW is world's second-best-selling automaker, GM falls to third

Every year when we start talking about which automaker is the biggest in the world, there always seems to be at least a little bit of controversy. For 2013, Toyota handily took the top spot with 9.98 million sales, but it's the runner up spot between General Motors and Volkswagen that is starting to create a stir.
Based on our earlier report, GM's 9.71 million vehicles put it in second place ahead of VW's 9.5-million-vehicle effort. Now, The Detroit News is reporting that VW is claiming a tally of 9.73 million sales, including figures from MAN and Scania - heavy-duty truck divisions under the VW AG family. The article points out that Toyota's sales figure includes its Hino line of trucks, but these might still be considered light-duty vehicles while MAN and Scania build tractor trailers.

Hyundai bringing new Veloster model to Chicago

The quirky Hyundai Veloster range is expanding, and we'll see the next take of the Korean automaker's hatchback at the Chicago Auto Show next week. Buried in a release about the company's social media activities, which you can read below, is a line confirming the "reveal of the newest addition to the Veloster lineup."
Mum's the word on what to expect in the world of Veloster, but our best-guess is that it won't be something Earth-shattering. Keep in mind, Hyundai just used the LA Auto Show as its venue to debut the Veloster Turbo R-Spec - a lower-cost, performance-minded version of its hot-ish hatch. Whether or not this new model builds upon the base car (pictured) or the more potent Turbo, remains to be seen.
We'll have the full scoop next week, so stay tuned.

VW Beetle celebrates 65 years in the US

Although the existence of the Volkswagen Beetle dates back to the early 1930s, it wasn't until 1949 that the first of what would turn out to be millions would find its way to the US. Sixty-five years ago this month, Dutch businessman Ben Pon, Sr. brought the first Beetle - or Type 1 - to the US, and Volkswagen is marking the occasion not with a special edition, but with a small gallery of images showing a gorgeous '49 Type 1 alongside a 2014 Beetle.
In that first year, only two Beetles were sold in the US, but just 20 years later, the car had become the face of a generation, selling 423,000 units in 1968 alone. Even though that's about 10 times as many Beetles sold in 2013, the bubbly hatchback remains one of the more popular vehicles in VW's lineup. Scroll down to read VW's informative press release marking the Beetle's 65th year in the US, and be sure to check out the great photographs, too.

Bob Dylan to star in Chrysler Super Bowl spot [w/videos]

Billboard reports that Bob Dylan will be working with Chrysler again, this time starring in a Super Bowl ad expected to showcase the company's new 200 sedan. The rock icon first tied up with the Chrysler Group late last year when a commercial for the new 2014 Jeep Cherokee used Dylan's unreleased cover of Blind Willie Johnson's "Motherless Children" for its soundtrack.
The last big-game commercial for the 200 used Eminem in 2011 to introduce us to the outgoing 200 and the tagline-turned-mini-movement, "Imported from Detroit." Since then, Clint Eastwood, Berry Gordy, Jr., and America's farmers have taken turns impressing us with Chrysler Group's wares. It isn't yet known what song will be used for the spot. Speaking of the coming ad, company CEO Sergio Marchionne said, "Someone made the comment to me that I had the right commercial in 2011 and the wrong car. I think we now have hopefully the right commercial and the right car."
It's not Dylan's first outing with a carmaker, having starred in a spot to promote the Cadillac Escalade in 2007. Nor will it be the only Dylan music we get during the Super Bowl, the singer having licensed a track that's used in a one-minute commercial for Chobani Greek yogurt.

Camry, Avalon Hybrids involved in stop-sale of 50,000 Toyota vehicles

A number of popular Toyota vehicles can currently not be sold thanks to something called a "stop-sale" order. The reason is that the seat heater on these vehicles - which include the 2013 and 2014 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Sienna, Corolla, Tacoma and Tundra models - "does not meet a provision of US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) requiring materials to retard flame at a specified rate." In other words, the seat heater could burn too fast. There have been no reports of fires or injuries due to the issue. Toyota told AutoblogGreen that around 50,000 vehicles are affected. No Scion or Lexus vehicles have the problem. The exact fix has not been identified, but Toyota said it is preparing a modification for all vehicles still on dealer lots, but there has not yet been an official recall. Instead, Toyota filed a "Non-Compliance Information Report" with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today. You can read Toyota's official statement below. Toyota and NHTSA are also looking at around 30,000 2007-2008 model year Camry Hybrids for brake issues. Seat Heater Non-Compliance Issue Creates Temporary Stop Sale On Certain Toyota Models January 30, 2014 Toyota has informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it has initiated a stop sale of certain Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra vehicles equipped with seat heaters in order to address a non-compliance issue. In involved vehicles, the seat heater, which is a small portion of the soft materials of the seat assembly, does not meet a provision of U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) requiring materials to retard flame at a specified rate. Toyota is preparing a modification for this condition, which will be implemented on all covered vehicles in dealer inventory. There have been no reports globally of any related incidents in the field with units in operation. Per NHTSA regulations, Toyota will file a Non-Compliance Information Report today. Featured Gallery 2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid: Review View 23 Photos News Source: ToyotaImage Credit: Copyright 2014 Drew Phillips / AOL Government/Legal Green Toyota Hybrid toyota avalon

Mini prices new Cooper Hardtop from $19,950* as configurator comes online

As surprised as the face of the new 2014 Mini Cooper makes the model look, customers shopping for the third-gen hatchback won't be surprised at all come spring. When the Hardtop goes on sale, it will not only offer a similar design to the outgoing model, it will also have a familiar price with a starting MSRP of $19,950 (*plus $795 for destination).
That price is for the base, third-generation model with the company's new 134-horsepower, 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine, and that MSRP amounts to a $250 increase over the 2013 Cooper. Looking for a little more power? The 189-hp Cooper S will go on sale at the same time, starting at $23,600 - just $300 more than last year's model.
Mini's press release discussing 2014 Cooper pricing is posted below, but for more detailed information on the options and packages, head on over to the live configurator.

Toyota issues stop sale on 6 key models over seat fabrics; recall possible? [UPDATE]

Toyota has issued a stop-sale order on six of its core models due to concerns about the flammability of certain seat fabrics. The issue rests not with the cloth and leather covers themselves, but with a piece of seat heater beneath them that fails to meet US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for flame retardancy.
There have been no reports of fires or injuries from the affected cars, which include some of Toyota's biggest volume sellers. 2013 and 2014 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Avalon and Sienna models equipped with heated seats are included in the stop-sale, as are 2014 Tundra pickups and Corolla sedans. The exact number of vehicles with the non-compliant materials are still being tabulated, according to The Detroit Free Press.
According to a Toyota spokesman, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been notified, although it remains to be seen if a recall will be issued. Outside of a full recall, though, it's unclear how Toyota will deal with vehicles equipped with the flammable materials that have already found homes.

2015 F-150 launch to curb Ford profits?

Ford is making a big bet on aluminum with its new 2015 F-150, and it's possible that the decision will hurt the company financially, at least in the short term. After earning a record $8.6 billion in 2013, the Blue Oval does not expect to set another record in 2014. According to Automotive News, that's "largely attributable to F Series," says Bob Shanks, Ford's Chief Financial Officer.
To retool for the new F-150, Ford will idle its Dearborn Truck Plant in Michigan for 11 weeks and the Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant in Missouri for 2 weeks. "3 of the 13 overall weeks occur during what normally is our summer shutdown timeframe," said Mike Levine, Ford Trucks Communication Manager, in an email to Autoblog. The extra 10 weeks will be preparing for the more aluminum-intensive construction for the trucks and will mean over 2 months of no F-150s being made. For comparison's sake, Chrysler boss Sergio Marchionne just confirmed that the 200 plant in Sterling Heights, MI will be down for 30 days to retool for the new model, but obviously there are many more F-150 production variables than for the midsize sedan.
Levine notes that Ford is already running three shifts at both plants, and says the automaker has plans to ensure that there is adequate supply of the full-size pickups during the retooling process. The company does not want to suffer a shortage of the vehicle that accounted for 31-percent of its 2013 US sales and an even bigger percentage of its profits.

Tesla attempting LA-NY Guinness record using Superchargers

Right now, two Tesla Model S EVs are crossing the US from Los Angeles to New York, hoping to be a big deal. Sure, a father-daughter team already claim they've made the cross-country drive, but this time, it's an official Tesla event and the company has its eyes on a Guinness World Record prize. The drivers left the Tesla design studio in Hawthorne, Los Angeles at midnight last night, and the plan is to use the company's just-completed Supercharger network to achieve the "lowest charge time for an electric vehicle traveling across the United States." We didn't know that was a category, either. Tesla now has over 70 Supercharger stations in the US and all of them are free-to-use for Model S drivers, which is why you can follow along on this record attempt via Twitter using the #DriveFree tag. As of early this morning, the teams made it to the Supercharger station in Kingman, AZ and posted this sunrise pic. We wish them safe travels – they will soon reach the snowy northern parts of the country since the current Supercharger route will take them through the upper Midwest on the way to the East Coast.

Toyota Tells Dealers To Stop Selling Six Models

Toyota has told North American dealers to stop selling six popular models with heated seats because the fabric doesn't meet flammability standards. One soft material beneath the seat covers does not comply with U.S. safety standards, company spokesman John Hanson said. No fires or injuries have been reported, but Toyota can't legally sell cars that don't comply with U.S. safety codes, Hanson said. The company is still totaling how many vehicles are affected, but it will be in the thousands, according to the spokesman. The stop-sale order could mean trouble for Toyota and its dealers because it covers the company's top-selling vehicles. Dealers can no longer sell certain Camry, Avalon, Sienna and Tacoma models from the 2013 and 2014 model years, as well as Corollas and Tundras from 2014. The Camry, for instance, is the top-selling car in the U.S. with more than 408,000 sales last year. It depends on how long the repairs will take. Hanson said the company already has a new material that's being installed at factories and will be put in cars that are on dealer lots. "We don't think it will take long to get the parts and make the changes," Hanson said, without getting more specific. As for vehicles already on the road, Hanson says Toyota has reported the problem to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which will decide if the sold vehicles should be recalled. A NHTSA spokesman said he would check into the matter. "We don't believe that there is a safety issue here because there have been no reports of any problems," Hanson said. The stop-sale order affects cars and trucks distributed to dealers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. In addition, some vehicles were exported outside North America, Hanson said. The problem was discovered by safety regulators in South Korea, who disassembled seats and tested individual fabrics, Hanson said. U.S. safety standards require fabrics to resist flames at a certain rate, but the one fabric didn't meet the standard, Hanson said. Toyota spokesman Naoki Sumino in Japan said the affected vehicles were sold since August of 2012, when the fabric supplier was changed. Toyota has been struggling to regain its once sterling reputation for quality after announcing massive recalls over several years, starting in 2009, for a variety of defects including braking, accelerators and floor mats. The company was fined for being slow on recalls, which affected more than 14 million vehicles, and faces lawsuits.

Robert Llewellyn fast-charges long-distance Leaf EV drive in UK

A British actor likely best known in his country for his role in the 1980s and 90s comedy series Red Dwarf has just made a pretty good case for driving green automobiles. Last week, Robert Llewellyn has completed an 862-mile round trip between London and Edinburgh in a Nissan Leaf and says he was able to save time by finding enough fast-charging stations the entire way, UK website Excite/Motoring says. Llewellyn, along with co-driver David Peilow, knocked out the London-to-Edinburgh leg in a single day, in part because of the British network of about 150 fast-charging stations. Llewellyn used his Twitter feed to update the general public of the two drivers' progress, noting that the first leg took about 13 hours. The round trip was completed January 26. Nissan can use all the positive publicity in can get, as UK sales of the all-electric vehicle failed to keep pace with the surging rate of demand in the US, where 2013 Leaf sales more than doubled from a year earlier to 22,610 units. In fact, in the UK, Nissan started offering incentives last month, things like free quick charging at Nissan dealerships, the ability to borrow gas-powered Nissans for free and free towing.

Toyota TRD Pro lineup coming next week

A mysterious Toyota commercial recently popped up on YouTube teasing a new TRD Pro lineup for the Tundra, Tacoma and 4Runner, and now we're getting our first official word straight from the automaker on the matter. Courtesy of its Facebook page, Toyota is promising that the TRD Pro models will be introduced on February 6th, ready to "conquer the great outdoors."
This date just so happens to mark the first day of the always-truck-friendly Chicago Auto Show, so while Toyota isn't saying as much, we're almost certain the trucks will show up next week in the Windy City. It's not clear what sort of upgrades TRD Pro brings, but it definitely includes black wheels and a tweaked front end featuring a thick, single-bar grille and bold lettering in place of the stylized Toyota logo (shown above on the Tundra).
Scroll down to see the video, and head over to Toyota's Facebook page to see a teaser image of the 4Runner TRD Pro.

Subaru teases all-new Legacy ahead of Chicago debut

Following the debut of the Legacy Concept at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show, it appears Subaru is now ready to show us the real thing. The Japanese automaker has just confirmed that a production-spec Legacy sedan will officially bow at next week's Chicago Auto Show.
All we have to work with right now is the teaser image you see above, as well as some general overview-type stuff from Subaru in regards to its new model. According to the company's press blast, the next Legacy "is a midsize sports sedan which offers enhanced driveability and functionality while achieving a design required for a flagship model with a quality feel." In other words, it's a brand-new Legacy.
The Legacy Concept was a decidedly attractive thing, combining coupe-like styling elements and a new design that sort of reminds us of a Buick Regal GS. Of course, Subaru has a storied history of creating excellent-looking concept cars, only to later unveil very watered-down production versions, so we fully expect its new midsize sedan to be quite a bit more boring than the show car we saw in LA. Let's hope we're wrong.

Chevy shines light on bull breeding in Silverado HD Super Bowl spot

Chevrolet has made a big push with its latest batch of Silverado trucks to emphasize its link to the country. It did it this past summer when it launched the Silverado ad, Her Horse. So you'd be forgiven for thinking that this latest spot, featuring the new heavy-duty variant of Chevy's pickup, was more of the same.
It's stars a man, a large farm animal and a Silverado. So it's quite like Her Horse, but the entire premise has switched. Rather than Will Hoge's "Strong" playing throughout, there's something just a bit... funkier. It's a bit early to tell, but we're thinking this Chevy spot has just the right blend of subtle humor to be a surprise hit when it airs this Sunday during the Super Bowl.
We've embedded the entire 60-second spot below. Let us know how you think Chevy's latest volley, which marks the brand's return to high-dollar world of Super Bowl advertising after a one-year absence, will fare against the other automotive-themed Super Bowl commercials by posting in Comments.

Fire up your 3D printer! Honda releases data for several of its past concepts [w/video]

Futurists have been treating 3D printing like it is the second coming of the Industrial Revolution for years. Everyone will have a 3D printer in their garage and be able make practically anything at home before you know it, right? Well... not quite.
While we can imagine a piece of trim breaking on our car and being able to download the file to print a new one at home, the reality is that 3D printing is still in its earliest stages as a consumer device. Still, Honda is capitalizing on the technology by allowing people to make models of its concept cars at home.
The Honda 3D Design Archive currently consists of five models based on the Fuya-Jo, FSR, Kiwami, Puyo, and NSX concepts. The printer files can be downloaded from the web and carry Creative Commons 4.0 licenses, which allow them to be freely shared. Honda promises that more files will be added to the archive soon.

Chrysler 300C John Varvatos Limited Edition returns for 2014 with AWD option

Before last year, many of us car guys had no idea who John Varvatos was. That all changed when the Detroit-native fashion designer lent his talents to the Chrysler 300 to create the snazzy, special-edition 300C John Varvatos models. The fashionable sedan returns for 2014 with two versions (Luxury and Limited), and the only big news here is that the latter model will be getting an optional all-wheel-drive system.
Distinguishing the Luxury and Limited models, the Luxury comes with Platinum exterior accents and is offered in a handful of colors while the Limited gets darker Titanium accents and only comes with a Phantom Black Tri-Coat paint job. Both cars get an exclusive interior design with special leathers, patterns and colors worthy of the designer's name and logo. The JV Edition is the only 300C to offer a V6 engine, but V8 lovers can still opt up for the powerful Hemi engine.
It would appear that the Luxury Edition is already on sale, but you'll have to wait until March for the 2014 JV Limited Edition, which, according to a Chrysler spokesperson, will be "limited from a production timing standpoint." The JV Luxury Edition starts at $41,195 and the Limited Edition will have a starting price of $44,480 (*not including $995 for destination) - both cars can be optioned with all-wheel drive for $2,500. Scroll down for the press release on the 300C John Varvatos Limited Edition.

Hyundai, Kia expanding plug-in vehicle line-up in Korea

Hyundai is shedding a bit of light on its electric vehicle plans. About time, too, since the company has spend a long period being quite vague about plugging in while touting its hydrogen plans. The Hyundai and Kia brands will both release their first plug-in hybrid vehicles next year in Korea; an all-electric version of the Kia Soul will roll out in May of this year and a mid-size electric vehicle will be launched as early as next year. Test versions of the Hyundai i10 electric vehicle have been on Korean roads since first being used at the G20 summit in Seoul in 2010. There have been hints about an electrified Hyundai coming to America, and at the Washington Auto Show last week, Michael O'Brien, vice president of corporate and product planning for Hyundai Motor America told AutoblogGreen that a new EV will be coming to the US market sometime within the next three years. A Hyundai executive told Korean national daily The Chosunilbo that the company will be significantly increasing its investment in hybrids and EVs to roll out a few eco-friendly models starting in 2015. It's hard to say which of these might come to the US market – a new LF Sonata will be coming out in both a regular gasoline and hybrid system in Korea; the US already has the Sonata Hybrid for sale. As for plug-in hybrids, Hyundai said that there will be both Sonata and Kia K5 (Optima) models coming out next year. These will also be the first-ever plug-in hybrids in the Korean market. Featured Gallery 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid View 13 Photos News Source: The Chosunilbo Green Hyundai Kia Electric Hybrid Hydrogen Cars PHEV

Ken Block's latest Gymkhana video is more of the same awesomeness

GoPro cameras are quite popular in a number of arenas, thanks to their general ease of use. Get the right mount, figure out where you want the camera, position it, hit a button and do whatever awesome thing you want captured on video. What happens when you have an overabundance of GoPros, though?
If you're Ken Block, you make a point of sticking the handy, little, HD-capable cameras everywhere and then drive through a big Gymkhana course. This is sort of a sequel to Block's Gymkhana 6, called the GoPro Edition, because it's been filmed entirely on HD Hero3+ cams. Multiple cameras in the cockpit? Check. Outside the car? Check. On obstacles? Check. Engine bay? Check. Giant crane suspending a vehicle-destroying morning star? Check.
The result of all these cameras on all these objects is a car video that covers action from a huge variety of angles. We've got the entire video below, and as a bonus, we've included the original Gymkhana 6, shot with conventional cameras. Take a look.

Can a Corvette really be compared to a 911 with options costing more than the Chevy?

In this latest video from Drive, Chris Harris asks straight away, "Can you still compare a base Corvette to a Porsche Carerra?" That's an particularly interesting question in this film, as the 911 in question is a 400-horsepower Carrera S model that's been fitted with $60,000 in options. Base price of a Corvette Stingray? $51,995. Harris' tester features an automatic and some other goodies that push it right up to that $60,000 range. So yes, the options on the Porsche cost as much as this entire 460-hp Chevrolet.
Harris stresses that this isn't a full review, but he does exercise both cars in a more composed manner before reverting to his traditionally exuberant driving style. The impressions are, as always, spot on, with Harris favoring the pointy nature and V8 power of the Stingray, while enjoying the gearbox (Porsche's exceptional PDK transmission) and just about everything else on the 911.
Take a look below for the latest video from Drive, and let us know if you agree with Mr. Harris' views on these two sports cars.

Preserving automotive history costs big bucks

$1.8 million is spent each year to maintain GM's fleet of 600 production and concept cars.
When at least two of the Detroit Three were on the verge of death a few years back, one of the tough questions that was asked of Ford, General Motors and Chrysler execs - outside of why execs were still taking private planes to meetings - was why each company maintained huge archives of old production and concept vehicles. GM, for example, had an 1,100-vehicle collection when talk of a federal bailout began.

eBay Find of the Day: Craterface's '49 Mercury convertible from Grease

Here is your chance to own your very own piece of greased lightning. Well, not the Greased Lighting, it's actually the black, flamed 1949 Mercury convertible that races against John Travolta in the classic 1978 movie Grease, and it's for auction on eBay Motors.
While it appeared in the film's exciting drag race in a Los Angeles storm drain, the hot rod was reportedly lost until last year, when the seller found it as a shell. He verified that it was the actual car with original builder, Eddie Paul, and sent the car for a complete restoration.
The auction includes original parts like the exhaust tips used in the movie and bent bumper from when it hit Travolta's car in the scene. The restorer recreated the scorpion stickers on the doors, razor hubcaps and license plate. He also installed a 1949 Mercury 255-cubic-inch (4.2-liter), flathead V8 and three-speed manual transmission with overdrive.

Toyota Highlander Super Bowl Muppet ad is pure Mayhem

We previewed Toyota's upcoming Super Bowl ad nearly a week ago, but with the big game just around the corner, the Japanese brand has now dropped the minute-long spot which will air on Sunday.
As we said in that original post, the commercial stars Terry Crews from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the Muppets (mostly Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem band, as well as Gonzo and Rowlf) and the redesigned 2014 Toyota Highlander. We won't spoil the premise, but suffice it to say that the Muppets' goal of loosening Crews up is wildly successful. Make sure to watch through to the end for Animal's take on Toyota's motto, "Let's go places."
We've got the full video down below, along with a press release from Toyota. Have a look and let us know what you think.