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Nissan reveals the face of the new Qashqai

Last week Nissan revealed the first teaser image previewing its upcoming new Qashqai. That one was wearing a big sheet and showed us little other than its basic shape and a few highlighted details, but now the Japanese automaker has released the first undisguised-ish image of the new European-market crossover.
From the image above we can tell the new Qashqai will carry the familiar face of Nissan's latest crossovers well, with the U-shaped grille and angular LED accents in the headlamp clusters. The sharp creases in the hood also make it stand out as quintessentially Japanese, particularly in a crossover market where they can all start to look the same.
We'll have to wait just a few more days to see the full thing, with the reveal set for November 7, but Nissan also released a tidy infographic showing just how successful the outgoing Qashqai has been for it in the European market. Check it out below.

2014 COPO Camaro also bowing at SEMA

If you read both of our pieces on Chevrolet's SEMA lineup, you'll note we mentioned a revised COPO Camaro, but didn't say anything beyond that. Quite simply, we didn't have all the facts then. Now we do - this is the 2014 COPO Camaro, and it is ready dominate drag strips.
Following tradition, only 69 2014 COPO Camaros will be built, each of which will be eligible for the NHRA's Stock Eliminator and Super Stock classes. These monsters are available with the customer's choice of a naturally aspirated, 427-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) V8 or a 350-cubic-inch (5.7-liter) V8, sporting a 2.9-liter, screw-type Whipple supercharger. Mhmm, supercharger whine. For those on more of a budget, naturally aspirated versions of the 350 and a 396-cubic-inch (6.5-liter) V8 are also available.
Race seats, a new wheel design and graphics package round out the updated COPO offerings. Each car comes standard with a suite of NHRA-approved safety items, including a roll cage. Other tweaks include a solid-rear axle in place of the standard independent rear suspension, and of course, those massive rear tires.

GM tinkering with Silverado, Sierra model mix amidst strong early sales

Variety, as they say, is the spice of life. That's a lesson that is currently being taught to General Motors, because despite a strong showing from its 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, the General's pickup sales still can't best those of cross-town rival Ford.
With 59,163 trucks moved, GM fell just over 1,000 units short of toppling Ford, and one of the main reasons for that, according to GM's chief sales analyst, was due to a lack of variety in the engines and body styles available on dealer lots. "We are still over-weighted toward crew-cab V8 trucks. Our light-duty mix will moderate over time as our launch progresses," said Kurt McNeil.
Loading dealers with the popular combination of the 5.3-liter V8 and the four-door, Crew Cab body style was intentional during the truck's launch, but as supplies of leftover 2013 models, which are being sold at heavy incentives, are beginning to wane, both budget-conscious and high-dollar buyers are looking elsewhere instead of at the volume model pickups.

VW reveals customized turbo Jettas for SEMA

While you're bound to see more American and Asian cars at SEMA than you will European ones, Volkswagen stands as a notable exception. This year VW is showcasing its new EA888 turbocharged four-cylinder engines with a pair of customized Jettas.
First up is the Racers Dream in Black and White, a Jetta sedan fitted with the new 2.0-liter turbo four and fettled by FMS Automotive. They've fitted a Stage 3+ turbo kit, installed new rods, wristpins and pistons, a carbon-fiber intake and intercooler. The result is more than double the stock output at 425 horsepower. To keep it all under control, FMS fitted an H&R coil-over suspension, 19-inch TSW alloys with Z-rated Nitto rubber and Brembo brakes. It's all capped by the front end and side skirts from the Golf R, the grille from a Jetta Hybrid, widened fenders and rear bumper and dual exhaust tips. Gloss trim contrasts with a matte white paintjob, and the interior features Recaro buckets, a custom infotainment system and more.
For its second project, FMS paid tribute to the original 1989 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Helios Special Edition. The blue and black Jetta packs a 1.8-liter turbo, a VW body kit, Golf R-spec brakes, custom exhaust, Recaro seats and more. H&R is also turning up in a tuned version of the new seventh-generation Golf which Volkswagen is introducing to the North American market. You can read all about them in the press release below and scope out the FMS projects in the pair of galleries top and bottom.

BMW to unveil X4 in March

It's been about half a year since BMW unveiled the X4 concept in Shanghai. But if you've been waiting for news on when it will reach production, the latest intel indicates it'll be announced next March.
Just when in March? That's the strange part. Inautonews reports having been told by BMW that the new X4 will be announced on March 14. So, the Geneva Motor Show, then? Not quite: although that show will still be going on then, the doors open to journalists like us on March 4, not 14. So either someone has got some details mixed up, or BMW - for some reason - is planning on waiting until after Geneva to reveal the production X4.
Whenever it does, we'll be looking at a slantback version of the X3, much like BMW did with the X5 and X6, giving Bavaria a rival to the Range Rover Evoque and Porsche Macan.

Lexus to display turbocharged LF-NX Concept at Tokyo Motor Show

Concept cars typically have a short lifespan. They debut at a major international auto show, then make the rounds of the lesser local shows, and that's pretty much it. They might be loaned out for test drives or put on display in a museum, but by and large they've had their fifteen minutes of fame by that point. That said, Japan's automakers have found a way to keep these show cars going and keep them in the news. They're modifying them and giving them a fresh lease on life.
That's what Subaru is doing with the Viziv concept for the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, and what Lexus is doing as well with the LF-NX concept. Having already unveiled the crossover concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Lexus is fitting the LF-NX with a new 2.0-liter turbo engine. (But then, as far as we could tell, Lexus never revealed engine specs for the concept in the first place.)
To go with the turbo engine, Lexus has also fitted the concept with a new front splitter, but otherwise it's the same - and even appears to be wearing the same liquid-metal paint, unlike the LF-LC concept that got repainted from red to blue when its limelight was starting to fade.

Chevy releases the rest of its SEMA-bound truck concepts

Chevrolet has, so far, let a slow trickle of information about its SEMA trucks reach the public. Yesterday, we showed you the Cheyenne Concept. In September we saw a pair of trucks, the Silverado Black Ops and Silverado Volunteer Firefighter, that will be on display this week at SEMA but debuted at the Texas State Fair. Now, we have the full deluge of details on all of Chevy's modded pickups.
Brad Paisley and Chevy teamed up for the blue truck you see above. Called the Brad Paisley Signature Silverado, the country star's logo is worked into the truck's design, while 22-inch wheels from the Chevy Accessories catalog are set off by a two-inch drop in the truck's suspension. Paisley's design carries over to the cabin, which features blue suede inserts on the leather seats and a Kicker sub for bit more bass in your country music.
Scroll down to see the rest of Chevy's truck lineup for SEMA.

Chevy reveals full slate of SS, Corvette and Camaro concepts for SEMA

Chevy has unveiled three Corvettes, four Camaros and an SS Sedan for this week's SEMA Show.
Ahead of this week's SEMA Show in Las Vegas, which begins tomorrow, Chevrolet has debuted a slew of concepts that will be shown at the Las Vegas Convention Center. In addition to the Silverado Cheyenne Concept we showed you yesterday, the latest unveiling consist largely of Camaros, Corvettes and one SS Sedan.

Race Recap: At the Abu Dhabi grand prix, the caravan chases a mirage

Both championships have been claimed this year, with Sebastian Vettel taking the Driver Championship and Infiniti Red Bull Racing the Constructor's. But there's no skunk rule in Formula One, so the last three races of the schedule are going on as scheduled.
Abu Dhabi was the latest venue, and what the Yas Marina Circuit has lacked in racing excitement, it has more than made up for in drama. It's where Lewis Hamilton always does well and should have won but for an engine blow-up. That lead to Kimi Räikkönen taking the first win of his return, and giving Lotus its first win. It's where a championship was decided when Fernando Alonso was stuck behind Vitaly Petrov and Timo Glock and couldn't put up a fight against Vettel. And this year, it was where Mark Webber again out-qualified his Red Bull teammate and grabbed pole, just three rounds away from retirement.
He was followed by Vettel, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas pair of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, the unstoppable Nico Hülkenberg in the first Sauber in fifth, Romain Grosjean in the first Lotus, Felipe Massa in the first Ferrari, Sergio Perez in the McLaren, Daniel Ricciardo in the Toro Rosso and Alonso in the second Ferrari in tenth. Tenth.

AEV to introduce Dodge Ram Concept at SEMA

American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), the Michigan-based company that has been modifying 4WD vehicles for hardcore off-road duty since 1997, will be introducing an all-new concept at SEMA next week. The prototype, which represents the company's first build with Dodge, is based on the burly 2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab Diesel.
Unlike the company's familiar AEV Jeep Wrangler builds, which are insanely capable off-road but lacking heavy load capacity, the one-of-a-kind Ram Concept pickup provides much greater cargo and towing capabilities with few concessions in terms of off-pavement sturdiness. According to AEV, the truck is geared towards the outdoorsman who wants a "complete vehicle package" that goes far beyond the traditional aftermarket "lifted truck."
A glance at the concept's specification sheet reveals a host of upgrades that include a suspension system with a three-inch lift, oversize aluminum wheels with recessed valve stems, fender flares to provide enough wheel clearance for a 40-inch tire and a custom stamped steel front bumper capable of supporting a 16,500-pound winch. Like all of AEV's modifications, it's a clean package that appears to have come right from the factory in terms of quality, fitment and styling.

Lexus reveals production RC coupe en route to Tokyo

Feast your eyes, ladies and gentlemen, on the new Lexus RC coupe. With the exception of the six-figure LFA supercar, it's the first stand-alone two-door model to come from Toyota's premium brand since the demise of the SC, and it's coming to the Tokyo Motor Show later this month.
With unmistakably Japanese styling, the Lexus RC is clearly inspired by the LF-CC and LF-LC concepts, and features the brand's signature spindle grille. Anyone who's been inside a contemporary Lexus should feel right at home inside the four-seat cabin, where the Japanese automaker has fitted ambient lighting that glows upwards instead of down, coupled with a new Remote Touch Interface.
Lexus has already announced two versions of the coupe: the conventional RC350 with a 3.5-liter gasoline engine and the RC300h with a 2.5-liter hybrid setup. It's all packed into a form that, for comparison's sake, is slightly larger than the new BMW 4 Series but markedly smaller (in every dimension but height) than a 6 Series.

Honda Civic overtakes Toyota Corolla as America's best-selling compact

The battle to claim October's best-selling compact sedan title has been won by the Honda Civic. The Japanese four-door sold 27,328 units, leaving the Toyota Corolla - September's title holder - in its wake with 23,637 units sold. In terms of year-to-date sales, the Civic sits at 280,899 units, with the Corolla trailing at 257,184 vehicles.
Sitting in third place, separated by a significant gap from the leaders, is the Chevrolet Cruze with 16,087 units sold. The Ford Focus earned fourth, with 15,108 units moved out of showrooms. (It is interesting to note that while the Civic and Corolla have both enjoyed double-digit sales increases year-over-year, the Cruze and Focus have seen significant decreases during the same period.)
Sales of the Hyundai Elantra hit 14,876 units, putting it in fifth place, with the Volkswagen Jetta earning sixth place with 11,710 units. Rounding out the ten top sellers were the Nissan Sentra (8,399 units), Mazda3 (7,647 units), Dodge Dart (5,617 units) and Subaru Impreza/WRX (4,923 units). The Kia Forte (4,706 units) and Volkswagen Golf (2,249 units), eleventh and twelfth respectively, have fallen behind.

Rolls-Royce confirms Wraith convertible for 2015

Until a few years ago, the Rolls-Royce product portfolio revolved around one model line, and that was the Phantom. But with the launch of the Ghost in 2010, the Goodwood-based automaker is expanding further. As with the Phantom line, a long-wheelbase Ghost ensued, followed by a coupe in the form of the Wraith. And now, as might have been expected, Rolls-Royce has reportedly confirmed development of a new convertible based on the same platform.
The new cabrio will be based closely on the Wraith, only with a convertible roof. Expect the same 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 that powers the Wraith to carry over with the same 624-horsepower output - the highest of any production Rolls-Royce - but with a bit more weight to push, the convertible ought to be a bit more sluggish off the line than the Wraith's 4.4-second 0-60 time.
We can also expect a higher sticker price, but closer to the Wraith's $320,000 MSRP than the Phantom Drophead Coupe's $470k. Whether Rolls opts to call it the Wraith DHC or use another nameplate entirely remains to be seen, but Autocar reports that the new Rolls cabrio won't arrive until 2015, so we've got a little while to go.

Chevy reveals SEMA-bound Silverado Cheyenne concept

There was a time when American automakers and enthusiasts were obsessed with high-performance pickup trucks. And by that we don't mean models like dune-jumping Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, either: these were trucks made for the street. Trucks like the F-150 SVT Lightning, GMC Syclone and Dodge Ram SRT-10. One by one, these hi-po trucks have faded away, but if there's one place where their successors can live, it's SEMA.
Just announced ahead of the show's opening, Chevrolet is rolling in to Vegas with the Silverado Cheyenne Concept you see here. It's based, of course, on the new Silverado, in regular cab, standard-box form, but cuts out some excess mass to benefit the all-important power-to-weight ratio.
By replacing the bumpers, tailgate and cargo box with carbon fiber, Chevy has cut 200 pounds off the curb weight. They've also dropped the ride height and fitted a rear stabilizer bar, Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes and a Borla exhaust, but most importantly, they've swapped out the 5.3-liter V8 with the company's all-new 6.2-liter small-block V8 good for 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque - that's a boost of 65 hp and 77 lb-ft. In other words, a production version of this rig looks like it would be a pretty fierce competitor for Ford's recently released 2014 F-150 Tremor.

Smart Fortwo spied with production-ready body

Fans of super-minis, take note - here's your first look at the all-new Smart Fortwo. The teensy, tiny city car skipped out in full camouflage, but lacking any shape-hiding body cladding. Immediately noticeable is just how tiny it is. It looks even smaller than the Smart Fortwo that's on the road now, but that's merely an optical illusion - it's not as long, but has a larger footprint overall.
The rear overhang is virtually non-existent, while the new Smart looks to be sporting a snub-nose look, with both designs going a long way towards highlighting the reduction in length. Riding on a miniaturized version of the architecture that will underpin the Smart Forfour and Renault Twingo, our spies are reporting that this car will have its engine mounted in the back and that it will drive the rear wheels.
Gas, diesel and a next-generation of the Fortwo ElectricDrive should all be expected when the third-gen Smart hits the Geneva Motor Show stage in March.

Honda recalls nearly 350k Odyssey minivans over unintended braking

A problem reported with the Vehicle Safety Assist System has prompted Honda and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a recall for Odyssey minivans from the 2007 and 2008 model years.
The issue revolves around a combination of parts and software that have been reported to cause the vehicle to brake hard and unexpectedly, without illuminating the brake lights. Imagine driving behind one of these vehicles when the malfunction occurs and you can easily understand how an unexpected rear-end collision could ensue.
Unfortunately, Honda won't be able to fix the problem until next spring, at which point the manufacturer will call in the 344,187 units affected into their local dealership for a fix. In the meantime, Honda will instruct owners on how to avoid the situation. For further details, see the full recall notice below.

Dubai claims debut of Toyota GT86 sedan concept

Typically, when the organizers of an auto show reveal that a new car will debut at their show, we take notice. But this particular claim from the Dubai International Motor Show ought to be taken with a grain of salt.
As our compatriots at AutoGuide discovered, the Facebook page for the Emirates auto expo includes a post with an interesting claim: that a sedan based on the Toyota GT86 (known in the US as the Scion FR-S) will debut at the show. The Facebook post is accompanied by the image above, purporting to show the concept in question.
The strange part is that the organizers claim the four-door GT86 concept will make its "regional unveil" at the Dubai show, which would seem to indicate that the concept in question would make its international debut at an earlier show. Considering that the doors open in Dubai on Tuesday, that seems increasingly unlikely. All of this begs the question, If this isn't actually a four-door GT86, what might it be?

The crazy backstory on the man that sold 15 cars on Craigslist for $25k

A man who lives in Miami recently posted a Craigslist ad containing 15 cars for $25,000, and he somehow managed to sell the whole collection to a Los Angeles-based buyer, according to Hooniverse. The sale list included vehicles by Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Lotus, Alfa Romeo and BMW, spanning 14 model years.
Apparently, the ad spurred enough hype for the seller, identified as Bruce, to write a mini-autobiography documenting his former jobs as a stockbroker and a car dealer, the expensive cars he used to own, a mob connection and more. Somehow all of it leads to why he had a collection of 19+year-old cars that he ended up selling for $1,666 each.
If you have a spare ten minutes or so, head over to Hooniverse to read Bruce's story.

Band turns Beetle Convertible into percussion section

This isn't the first time we've seen music made with the help of cars, but it's pretty inventive all the same. Walk Off The Earth, a Canadian band perhaps best known for its cover of Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know," teamed up with Volkswagen to film its latest music video.
The song, entitled "Gang of Rhythm," is a catchy pop anthem of sorts, and three separate versions were recorded for the video. The first, called "Playful," is the one that uses the car, in this case a red VW Beetle, to best effect. The second and third styles, "Soulful" and "Powerful," don't make nearly as much use of the Bug.
Want to see and hear the music video yourself? Scroll down below to check it out.

Nissan gets new NA boss, lowered forecasts in management shakeup

José Muñoz, a Nissan and Infiniti sales and marketing vice president, will replace Colin Dodge as Nissan's new North America chief, come Jan. 1, as part of a wide-ranging management shuffle, Automotive News reports. Dodge will remain on Nissan's board, be assigned to special projects and report directly to CEO Carlos Ghosn.
Nissan is working on reorganizing its global operations into six regions, each with a new chief: North America (Muñoz' territory), Latin America, Japan-Southeast Asia, China, Europe and Africa-India-Middle East. Currently Nissan divides the globe into three regions, the Americas, Europe-Africa-India-Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Nissan also lowered its sales forecast from 5.3-million vehicles to 5.2 million for the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2014. Last year, the company sold 4.914 million in the same period. In May, after Nissan's market share had fallen to 7.7 percent, Ghosn said he wants to double sales in the US by 2017 and increase its market share in the country to 10 percent.

Fiat 500L production halted in Serbia

News is trickling out of the Serbian factory that's responsible for Fiat 500L production that work has stopped due to a delay in parts delivery. Fiat has been mum on the reasoning for the stoppage, which is going on its tenth day, according to Automotive News. "Production ceased on Wednesday and we still don't know when it will resume," said a spokesperson for Fiat's Serbian operations.
While Fiat isn't saying what the issue is, AN is reporting a number of workers for a local transport company are protesting over unpaid wages. They've blocked the road and rail lines leading towards the factory, preventing the delivery of parts for production.
If the stoppage continues, it's going to be bad news for the 500L, as its numbers have just started to pick up following its launch in June. According to a report earlier this month, sales cracked 1,000 units in September. A lengthy delay in production will also count as another blow for local Fiat dealers, which have struggled over small profits, a limited lineup and rumors that Fiat stores will not be selling the Alfa Romeo 4C as promised.

Dodge shows can-do attitude with grand Can'avan sculpture

There are lots of ways to celebrate an important birthday, and all of them are well deserved. You can throw a big party, buy yourself something nice, or - if you're the altruistic type - do something for others in need. The latter is how Chrysler has opted to mark the 30th anniversary of its Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country.
Together with hunger-advocacy organization Canstruction, the Chrysler Foundation has built a full-scale replica of the Grand Caravan out of 30,000 food cans in the square at the corner of Yonge and Dundas in Toronto, a ways down the highway from where the real vans are built in Windsor. The sculpture was built over the course of 10 hours by 30 volunteers and was displayed earlier this week.
Now the installation is being taken down, and the cans of food are being donated to the Daily Bread Food Bank, which will assemble them into 2,000 food baskets to be distributed to those in need through its network of 200 food banks across the Canadian metropolis. Check out a neat time-lapse video of the build and the press release below.

Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD set for LA debut

Acura has announced that it will be showing the production version of the RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show. You'll recall that the standard 3.5-liter V6-powered RLX has been on sale for some time, and that our review of Acura's flagship sedan was mixed. On paper, at least, the RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD should fare better.
Sporting a similar hybrid powertrain to the one expected to motivate the NSX supercar, the RLX uses a 3.5-liter V6 paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a trio of electric motors to generate 377 horsepower, net a combined fuel economy of 30 miles per gallon and offer the security and performance of torque-vectoring all-wheel drive.
The RLX will hit the LA stand on November 20. Scroll down for the full press release from Acura.

Chevy recalling 2013-14 Camaro models over airbag stickers that don't

According to Edmunds, Chevrolet is recalling 18,941 Camaro models in the United States due to airbag warning stickers on the sun visors that may peel off. This might not seem like a big deal, but, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration puts it, "If the airbag warning label detaches from the visor, the driver and front seat passenger may not be warned of the risks of airbag deployment, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash."
The affected Camaro models are from the 2013 and 2014 model years, built between July 9 and September 6, 2013. General Motors reportedly issued a "stop delivery" order to dealers on September 19. Chevy dealers will inspect these Camaros and, if the stickers on the visors have started to peel, the visors will be replaced altogether.
GM will notify customers of the problem and will urge them to check the cars themselves. "Because this inspection can easily be performed by the customer, and to reduce inconvenience, an inspection procedure will be provided with the customer letter," GM said in a statement, according to Edmunds. That said, if customers are not comfortable checking this on their own for whatever reason, or if the sticker has either fallen off or started to peel, the car should be brought right to the dealer.

Honda launches new JDM Odyssey, Mugen chips in [w/video]

Honda has just released its new Odyssey minivan for the Japanese Domestic Market, and it has plenty of style and room for up to eight people. Honda factory tuning company Mugen will also offer performance and styling parts for the fifth-generation minivan.
The Odyssey is offered in B and G trim with a 173-horsepower, 2.4-liter I-VTEC four-cylinder mated to a continuously variable transmission with optional paddle shifters and seven 'speeds.' The more upscale Odyssey Absolute features sportier styling, and but all models are available in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
The interior follows a "modern suite" design concept inspired by luxury hotels, with wood trim and comfortable-looking seats. Additionally, customers can choose between models with a lift-up second-row seat or a lift-up front passenger seat. Honda highlights the Odyssey's low floor height and high ceiling, which accentuates the spacious interior. The low floor also endows the minivan with a step height of 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) at the rear sliding door to afford easy entry.

Mitsubishi readies trio of hybrid utility concepts for Tokyo

Mitsubishi has announced a trio of concept cars it will bring to the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, set to kick off later this month. The three concepts all sport new, edgy styling that is quite a departure from the Mitsus we see here in the states.
First up, we have the Concept GC-PHEV, which we're guessing is the middle vehicle in the photograph up top, as it's supposed to be a larger SUV - think Outlander for this one. From a powertrain standpoint, it sounds quite impressive. A 3.0-liter, supercharged, MIVEC V6 syncs up with an electric motor and a plug-in battery pack, while an an eight-speed automatic transmission dispatches power to all four wheels.
Next, we have the Concept XR-PHEV. We're taking a step down from the GC here, as the XR is meant to compete in the compact-crossover market, which means this could pre-sage the next Outlander Sport. Like the GC, though, it takes advantage of a hybrid powertrain, with a turbocharged, 1.1-liter direct-injection engine providing the grunt. The front-driver also sports a lightweight motor and battery, although specific details about both are scarce. We're thinking the XR-PHEV is the smaller, red vehicle on the right of the image up top.

Forza 5 documents bringing Audi R18 E-Tron and Le Mans to game

Forza Motorsport 5 is set to come out on November 22 alongside the all-new Xbox One. As part of the launch lineup for a big new system, it shouldn't be a shock that Turn 10 Studios, the maker of the Forza series is going all out in promoting its new game. That's meant making interesting partnerships, like the one it enjoys with Top Gear.
Perhaps a less talked about alliance is between Audi and Turn 10. It's put on full display here, though, as Turn 10 documents the process of building Forza Motorsport 5 alongside Audi's quest at Le Mans, with both sides talking about what it takes to make a game and racing team work (they aren't as different as you might think).
There's also quite a bit of Le Mans and Audi-specific content coming with FM5. As with previous iterations of Forza Motorsport, gamers will have access to both the old and new Circuit de la Sarthe (the most notable difference between the two being the presence of Chicanes on the Mulsanne Straight). Audi will also be volunteering several of its vehicles for the new title, ranging from racers like the R18 e-tron Quattro and Audi Sport R8 to production rockets like the 2013 R8 V10 plus, 2006 RS4 and the 1983 Sport Quattro.

2014 Nissan Rogue

When I first started in this whole automotive journalism biz, I held a sort of hodgepodge receptionist/gopher/production assistant role, and each morning as the staff filed in, I'd ask them how they liked whatever car they were assigned to drive the previous night. Most of my colleagues would regale me with anecdotes about how good or bad a vehicle was, but one co-worker, every single morning, would answer my query with the exact same phrase: "It was fine."
I always assumed this was just a brush-off, an "ask me again after I've had a cup of coffee" sort of response. But then I found myself in a similar moment of brevity following the launch of the 2014 Nissan Rogue earlier this week. After returning home, a friend asked me what I thought of the new Rogue, and I replied, word for word, "It was fine."
And, well, it was. Nothing worth wasting exclamation points over, good or bad. Aside from something like the interesting-to-drive Mazda CX-5 or funky-looking Jeep Cherokee, nothing in this class really tries to set the world on fire. And that, right there, is fine. Nissan doesn't need to do anything crazy with its second-generation Rogue. It just needs to offer a well-equipped crossover that's handsome, functional, efficient and priced right - sticking to the same formula that made the first-generation model so successful while offering the latest crop of creature comforts in a more modern package.

Man makes record-setting drive across the US in 28 hours, 50 minutes

Records, as the say, are made to be broken. Whether that's cramming the most hot dogs down your gullet, running a faster mile, or yes, driving across the United States, odds are that there's someone out there wants to eat more, run faster or drive harder. Speaking of that last example, the record for driving from a set location on the east coast, in particular the Red Ball Garage in Manhattan to the Portofino Hotel in Redondo Beach, CA, has been one that has fascinated gearheads since a guy named Cannonball Baker made the trek from New York to LA in 53 hours, 30 minutes, in 1933.
The competition saw its glory days when Car and Driver's Brock Yates came up with the Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash (more affectionately known as the Cannonball Run), although the record was most recently set by Alex Roy and his 32-hour, seven-minute trek behind the wheel of a BMW M5 in 2006. Now, there's a new champion, who made the trip from east to west in a scarcely imaginable 28 hours and 50 minutes, behind the wheel of a 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL55 AMG. That's works out to an average speed of 98 miles per hour over the course of 2,813.7 miles.
His name is Ed Bolian, and Jalopnik has a writeup of the epic voyage that details everything from the history of the Cannonball Run to Bolian's preparation and trouble finding co-drivers, to the trip itself. It is well worth a read.

Cadillac considering more electric cars, Elmiraj business case gaining popularity

Cadillac's electrification isn't likely to stop at the $76,000 ELR coupe, according a report from TheDetroitBureau.com. Speaking to Cadillac's global sales boss, Bob Ferguson, a successful ELR will likely lead to a larger, even more upscale offering than the Volt-based two-door. "I could certainly see a larger vehicle, something even more luxurious," Ferguson said of a potential second, battery-powered Caddy.
That car would likely boast a more potent version of the Voltec powertrain that motivates the Volt and ELR. This next-generation system is still sometime off, though, and won't likely arrive until the second-generation Volt hits the market.
Besides hinting at future plug-in hybrids, Ferguson spoke to TDB about the improving business case for the Elmiraj Concept, shown at the Pebble Beach Concours in Monterey in August. "I'm very excited about the reception for the Elmiraj," Ferguson said. "I'd like to see it in showrooms as soon as possible," he added, before saying that a business case for the production version of the big coupe still needed to be presented to the brass. "It was made to be operationalized," Ferguson added, which is just what we want to hear when it comes to big, flashy concept cars.