Filed under: Spy Photos , Hatchback , Audi Audi probably won't be taking the wraps completely off its new small car until the Geneva Motor Show next March, but spy shooters are already out there hunting down the prototypes. The clearest image we've seen yet shows a mini-car that appears to have changed very little from the MetroProject concept that first appeared at the last Tokyo Motor Show two years ago. The new A1 is expected to go on sale around the middle of next year in Europe although its not clear if it will ever come Stateside. To keep costs down, Audi is expected to build the A1 with a conventional steel structure as opposed to the aluminum space frame of the A2 of a few years ago. Power is expected to come from a range of gas and diesel engines likely topping out at about 1.4 liters. Some of the unseen mechanical bits will likely be shared with the new VW Polo, but this is definitely more than just a re-badge job as evidenced by the completely different shape. [Source: Car ] Spy Shots: Audi A1 spotted wearing swirlies and not much else originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read

Is this the World's Most Miserly VW Bus? Might be the cutest, too. Reader spots Chevy Volt prototype parked in a driveway Parked by a Dodge minivan, no less. Coskata's new Lighthouse cellulosic ethanol plant, in depth Cellulosic ethanol at a "very competitive" cost just got a step closer. Other news: Congress approves three-wheelers for DOE funds Congress restores hydrogen funding with $187 million in appropriations bill Does a corn-ethanol vehicle beat the Tesla Roadster in lifetime CO 2 emissions? AutoblogGreen for 10.19.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read

Filed under: Hatchback , Chrysler , Fiat , Rumormill , Luxury 2009 Lancia Delta - Click above for high-res image gallery With the appointment of Lancia CEO Olivier Francois as head of the Chrysler motor division , we can expect the two companies to collaborate on future products and take advantage of economies of scale. With Lancia operating exclusively overseas and Chrysler primarily in North America, the two brands can share products without having to worry much about stepping on one another's toes. But while that cooperation is expected to manifest itself in new models that have to be developed, new reports suggest that the tie-in could begin a lot earlier than that. Although there doesn't appear to be much to substantiate the claims beyond extrapolation and speculation, word on the Italian street is that the current Lancia Delta could make it over here - together with the Fiat 500 and a handful of Alfa Romeos - as a Chrysler. Although the quasi-premium hatchback has quirky styling, we've found the execution of Lancia interiors to be top-notch. Whether car buyers in America would be interested remains to be seen, but there could be a business case to be made for giving Chrysler a competitor to the likes of the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series without the cost and time involved in developing a new vehicle. Gallery: 2009 Lancia Delta [Source: eurocarblog ] Rumormill: Lancia Delta coming to America with a Chrysler badge? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read

Filed under: Spy Photos , Sedan , Performance , Videos , BMW , Luxury Click above to view video after the jump If you were disappointed by reports that BMW was planning to retire the award-winning, high-revving V10 engine from the current M5 in favor of a twin-turbo V8, well...we can't really blame you. It's one heck of an engine, and we'll all miss it dearly. But all is not lost. The Bavarian automaker is hard at work on the next 5 Series, and with it the next-gen M5. And now spy video footage of the uber-sedan lapping the Nurburgring has surfaced. With all the swirly camouflage, it's hard to tell much about the car's styling. You can expect it to follow the lead set by the new 5 Series Gran Turismo, though. But the engine - well, just follow the jump , watch the video and tell us if you're not hearing that telltale turbo whine. Thanks for the tip, Paul! [Source: YouTube] Continue reading SPY VIDEO: 2011 BMW M5 prototype whines its way 'round the Nordschleife SPY VIDEO: 2011 BMW M5 prototype whines its way 'round the Nordschleife originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .

Filed under: Spy Photos , Convertible , Performance , Hatchback , Fiat Fiat's Abarth performance division only has two basic product lines, so how many revisions can it possibly have on the burner? Well, two, as reports emerging from Europe suggest. Following hot on the heels of the 695 Tributo Ferrari unveiled in Frankfurt and the rally-spec R3T presented in Sanremo, come spy photos of an Abarth version of the ragtop Fiat 500C. Reports first emerged of an Abarth 500C a couple of months back, but what looks to be a working example has been spied at Abarth's Officine 83 Mirafiori facility . Sources expect a possible debut in March at the Geneva Motor Show. Meanwhile, there are also more reports of an updated Punto Abarth. The hot hatch is expected to wear cosmetic modifications concurrent with the new Fiat Punto Evo , and the 170hp 1.4-liter MultiAir four from the Alfa Romeo MiTo Quadifoglio Verde is tipped to replaced the existing 155hp engine. Reports also suggest that the Abarth could be one of the first Fiat group products to showcase the company's new six-speed dual-dry-clutch transmission. While the new Punto isn't expected to make it Stateside, there's a strong chance the Abarth 500 will. However there's no word yet as to if and when the 500 range might get the MultiAir engine and DSG.

Filed under: Motorsports , Spy Photos , Performance , Europe , Hatchback , Ford Ford Fiesta S2000 rally car - Click above for high-res image gallery CAR has just published what are believed to be the first pictures of the new Ford Fiesta S2000 rally car. With a few extra mods, it's set to take on all comers as Ford's 2011 WRC contender as well. It makes sense, because Ford has already confirmed (along with Citroen) that plan to enter both classes and they've confirmed that the Fiesta is the car they plan to run. S2000 cars run naturally aspirated engines generating about 270 horsepower, while WRC cars can be turbocharged and run with tweaked bodywork. The pics were shot during a shakedown run in Cumbria, England. According to CAR , a second car should be ready by the end of October with full homologation starting in January 2010. M-Sport is once again behind the build for Ford which reportedly took just six months this time around. Gallery: Ford Fiesta S2000 rally car [Source: CAR ] Spy Shots: First images of Ford Fiesta S2000 rally car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

2009 Lexus HS 250h - Click above for high-res image gallery Even though there have been plenty of reports that Toyota would apply the Prius name to other hybrids in its lineup, thereby creating a Prius sub-brand , the upcoming second dedicated hybrid from the Japanese automaker bearing the Toyota name will be simply named the Toyota Sai . The Sai goes on sale in Japan on October 20th and slots in between the Prius and the Crown hybrid . Featuring a more powerful engine than the Prius (a 2.4-liter gasoline engine compared to the 1.8-liter in the Prius), the Sai will look similar to the Lexus HS 250h (pictured) and will be based on the same underpinnings. Lexus has been selling the HS 250h in Japan since July and in the U.S. for a few weeks. Toyota isn't giving out any clues about the car's overseas potential, but if the car ever comes to the U.S., it'll join the Camry hybrid as a pretty solid competitor to the Ford Fusion hybrid. There's a market for some Toyota badge engineering mixed with hybrid tech here, right? Gallery: Lexus HS 250h [Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd] Toyota Sai to be brand's second dedicated hybrid, goes on sale Oct. 20 in Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:58:00 EST.

Greenlings: Will we ever replace the standard rear- and side-view mirror? You've got questions, we've got answers. Google algorithms tweaking electric car-smart grid communication Let's hope it's more google.com than G1, if you know what we're saying. Officially, official: Nissan Leaf reservations start in the spring; 20,000 predicted by end of 2010 With this much interest, why will Nissan only sell it in some places in the U.S.? Other news: Magnetic Air Car "does not violate the laws of energy conservation or the basic principles of thermodynamics" Tesla Motors announces new senior engineering and manufacturing execs Balqon Mule150 is one brawny beast of burden in electric truck form AutoblogGreen for 10.02.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read

Filed under: Spy Photos , Hatchback , Alfa Romeo If you're looking at spy shots of a European hatchback and wondering, "Why should I care?", we'll tell you why. This car is, in all likelihood, coming to America. The test mule was snapped while stopped by local police, which isn't something you see every day. Oh, and it was near the Nurburgring, to boot. The car in question is the Alfa Romeo Milano , one of a handful of new models being developed by the Italian automaker with the North American market in mind. While the MiTo effectively replaced the three-door version of the aging Alfa 147, the Milano replaces the five-door variant. Styling is fully expected to follow the example set by the MiTo and 8C Competizione, and sources suggest that the Milano could be ready for public debut at the upcoming Geneva show in March, so stay tuned. We couldn't tell you definitively why the German police pulled the test driver over, but considering that Italian cars tend to encourage a heavy right foot and the car's proximity to the 'Ring, we can hazard a guess or two. [Source: World Car Fans ] Spy Shots: Alfa Romeo Milano stopped by police by the Nurburgring originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .

Attention 2004-2009 Prius owners: Remove your floor mats Make sure to find out if you're affected by the recall. Tokyo Preview: Near-production Honda CR-Z "Concept" unveiled An updated CRX with hybrid drive? Fine by us. Austrian hyper-miler gets 100 mpg in a Seat Ibiza Ecomotive Show off. Other news: Zipcar's iPhone app finally available go ahead and honk the horn from your couch REPORT: IIHS concerned with growing popularity of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles Tokyo Preview: Subaru Hybrid Tourer looks ready to take flight AutoblogGreen for 10.01.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read