China's Ferrari-Lamborghini-Audi-Inspired S11 Coupe Rumored to Debut as a JAC Model in Beijing

If you're experiencing a little bit of déjà vu after looking at these photos, no need to worry because chances are you remember our post on the red Tong Jian S11 coupe from the 2009 Shanghai Auto Show.

The news coming in from several automotive websites in China is that Jianghuai Automobile, more commonly known as JAC Motors, will present the S11 under its own nameplate at this month's 2012 Auto China Show in Beijing.

The same sources show a set of allegedly scoop photos of the S11 in a yellow exterior finish that they claim to be the JAC model, even though the car does not sport any of the brand's badges.

If true, then JAC Motors, which recently made headlines in the States for cloning the Ford F-150 pickup truck, may have come sealed some sort of deal with Tong Jian to build the coupe – that or it just "borrowed" the design…

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Watch Citroën's New Numéro 9 DS Luxury Concept on the Move

The first video of the Citroën Numéro 9 has sprung up in the wake of its official presentation on Thursday night.

The sleek looking concept model continues to push Citroën's DS lineup more upmarket while also previewing the design elements to be found in three brand new DS vehicles that will soon launch onto the market, including a C-segment compact sedan, an SUV and a mid-size D-Segment sedan.

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I Am Numéro 9: Citroën’s DS Concept in Detail with Over 120 High-Res Photos

Over the past few weeks, we managed to gather bits and pieces about Citroën’s newest DS concept study and now, we not only have more than 120 high-resolution photos to share with you, but we also have all the details in advance of its world premiere at the Beijing Motor Show on April 24.

Previously believed to be named the DS9, the French study is called the Numéro 9 concept, though Citroën makes it clear that it belongs to the DS lineup.

Citroën says that the Numéro 9 introduces the more chic and premium DS lineup to Chinese consumers before the company launches its first DS products onto the market later this year.

More importantly though, Citroën states that the Numéro 9 refines the brand's design language and signals the styling cues of the next three DS line models including a C-segment premium sedan (think Audi A3 Sedan), an SUV and a D-segment (mid-size) executive saloon.

As you can see, Citroën is all hyped up about its DS line, which currently consists of the DS3 supermini, DS4 compact hatch and the larger DS5, and all for good reason as it has notched up more than 200,000 sales worldwide just two years after launch.

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GM Says Explosion at Tech Facility Injures Five, One Seriously, was Related to Prototype Battery Testing

The explosion that occurred on Wednesday morning at the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, near Detroit, and which we first told you about earlier today, resulted in the injury of five employees, one of which seriously, according to an official statement from the company.

"We are aware of five employees being evaluated on scene by medical personal and only one employee is being further treated," said GM.

A company official told the Detroit News that the employee who was seriously injured and hospitalized is expected to make a full recovery and that the injuries are non-life threatening.

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Toyota Begins Production of the Yaris Hybrid at French Plant

Toyota today announced that it has commenced production of the new Yaris Hybrid at its Valenciennes plant with the first vehicle to roll off the production line going to a customer in northern France.

The hybrid version of the third generation Yaris uses a new, more compact version of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain that is demonstrated in the video that follows. The company claims that the HSD system does not impede on passenger or boot capacity, which are identical to the non-hybrid versions.

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Toyota Confirms UK Pricing and Specs of New Prius Plug-in Hybrid

The new plug-in hybrid version of the Toyota Prius will arrive in UK showrooms at a slightly higher price than what the Japanese automaker originally estimated.

Back in September of 2011, Toyota had said that the Prius Plug-in would cost less than £31,000 and under £26,000 if you include the £5,000 government subsidy. Today we learn that the final on-the-road price for the plug-in model is £32,895, which falls to £27,895 with the £5,000 Government grant available on new vehicle purchases through the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV).

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Honda Outlines Plans for China, will Debut Two New Concepts at the Beijing Auto Show

Honda has important plans set for the Chinese market over the next few years, as it will enhance its range with the introduction of more than 10 brand new or redesigned models from 2013 to 2015, while also increasing its local production capacity.

We'll get a taste of what Honda has in store for Chinese consumers at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show, as aside from the presentation of the CR-Z, Insight and Fit hybrid models that will all be launched onto the market this year, the company will also debut two new concept models.

The Japanese automaker isn't willing to reveal anything about the two studies yet, but it did release a pair of sketches that outline the shape of a minivan and a what is most likely a sedan model.

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New Study Finds that Only a Third of Hybrid Owners Buy Hybrids Again

As it seems, the majority of hybrid car owners in the States don't go for seconds, or at least that's what a new study released today by auto research firm Polk reveals.

According to the report, while the number of hybrid models in the U.S. has more than doubled since 2007, only 35 percent or a little over a third of hybrid vehicle owners choose to purchase a hybrid again when returning to market in 2011.

To make matters worse, Polk says that if you exclude the high volume audience of Toyota Prius owners from the equation, hybrid loyalty drops to under 25 percent!

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Lexus Puts a Price on New 2013 GS 450h, Facelifted 2013 RX Series and 2012 IS

If you were eyeing one of Lexus' newest models, the Japanese automaker has just announced pricing for the brand-new 2013 GS 450h and the updated 2013 RX 350, 450h and 450h F Sport.

We'll start with the 2013 GS 450h hybrid sedan that delivers a total system output of 338-horsepower, while achieving 29 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined. It will arrive in Lexus' U.S. showrooms in May with a base MSRP of $58,950 (excluding a processing and handling fee of $875), which is unchanged from the model it replaces.

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Watch the New BMW i8 Spyder Concept in Action

We've already had the chance to see the first images of BMW's i8 Spyder concept in advance of its world premiere at the Beijing Auto Show, where it will be presented alongside the new local market 3-Series LWB model, but if you'd like to watch the study on the move, we've just added three new videos that you can check out right past the break.

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2013 Acura RLX Concept Sedan Sports New V6 Hybrid System with 370HP and 30mpg Combined

At the 2012 New York Auto Show, Acura revealed the new RLX, which may carry a concept moniker, but we all know that it's a thinly disguised version of the production model slated for launch in North America at the beginning of 2013.

The RLX will replace the RL as Acura's flagship model in a segment that the company has constantly failed to deliver.

The Japanese brand's full-size sedan has approximately the same length as the current RL, but comes with a two-inch longer wheelbase and two-inch shorter front overhang, while both the track and vehicle width increase by around two inches.

The styling builds on Acura's so-called 'Keen Edge' design motif, as seen on the smaller ILX. The concept's stance is accentuated by a set of 20-inch forged aluminum wheels shod in 255/35 R20 high-performance tires, which is probably one of the few elements on the concept that won't make it into production.

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Lexus Unveils Sleek 2013 ES 350 and ES 300h Hybrid Sedans at the New York Auto Show [Pics & Video]

Blame prior experience, but of all Lexus models, the last one you would expect to impress with its styling would be the ES, yet the Japanese automaker did precisely just that with its sixth generation mid-size sedan that was officially revealed today at the New York International Auto Show.

With the 2013 model, Lexus has turned the ES from a bland mid-size model to a sleek looking sedan, which most other carmakers today wouldn't have a problem describing it as a "four-door coupe".

Even though the new ES incorporates the brand's latest design language as seen on the 2013 GS for example, the overall result is much crispier and cleaner.

In terms of dimensions, the wheelbase of the new ES has been lengthened by 1.8 inches, while the overall length of the vehicle has grown by just one inch. Lexus promises a more spacious interior as knee room is increased by 2.8 inches and legroom by 4.1 inches. According to the company, the new design also offers additional foot room below the front seat.

The cabin itself has been designed from scratch, with the dashboard reminding us that of the new GS sedan. Among other notable features is the availability of the next-generation Lexus Enform system, a Display Audio package that adds a seven-inch screen, a backup camera, HD Radio with iTunes tagging, Bluetooth audio, phone transfer, and a vehicle information display.

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Fisker Officially Unveils New Audi A5 Rivaling Atlantic Plug-in Hybrid Sports Sedan [Pics & Video]

It's show time for the maker of the Karma hybrid, as Fisker officially presented its new Atlantic mid-size sports sedan at a special event on Tuesday night in advance of the car's world premiere at the New York Auto Show on Wednesday, April 4.

Revealed here as a design prototype, the Atlantic will be Fisker's first mainstream and mass produced vehicle. The company said the car is aimed at young families who want to drive "an impactful, high-end vehicle while making a positive statement about responsibilities".

The California-based automaker declined to get into specific details, but it is believed that the Atlantic will start from under $50,000, not including any federal green tax credits, which could reduce the price to a little over $40,000, or less than half the cost of the Karma.

Just like the Karma sedan, the Atlantic is a plug-in series hybrid that allows the driver to switch manually or automatically between electric and gasoline driving modes and sustain the charge of its lithium ion batteries on the move.

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Citroën's New DS5 Goes on Sale in Britain, Prices Start from £22,400

Following a prolonged advertising campaign, Citroën’s third addition to the DS range, the new DS5, has finally reached UK showrooms.

On-the-road prices start at £22,400 for the entry-level DSign with a 1.6-liter diesel and rise to £32,200 for the range-topping DSport Hybrid4 version. There are three trim grades named DSign, DStyle and DSport.

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BMW i8 Spyder Concept Shows the Way for a Production Model [45 Photos]

While we have yet to see a production model, BMW's newly formed "i" sub-brand continues to expand its range of concept cars with a third study for a roadster version of the i8 Coupe.

Given the close relationship with the coupe model, it's very likely that the i8 Spyder will receive the green light for production as well with a possible market launch to follow within the next two to three years. The i8 Spyder will make its world premiere at the Auto China Show 2012 in Beijing in late April.

While it shares its basic platform architecture and plug-in hybrid powertrain with the coupe, the Spyder is a strictly two seater model and has a slightly shorter wheelbase and overall length.

Other changes include the solid doors, which keep the 'butterfly' design swiveling upwards, the new colors and materials inside, and the redesigned rear-end that now features a transparent engine cover.

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Project Nina Named the Fisker Atlantic, uses a BMW Turbocharged Engine as a Range Extender

We just learned from a reliable source that the car we've come to know as the Project Nina and which will be revealed at next week's 2012 New York International Auto Show, will be named the Fisker Atlantic.

The Atlantic is a four-door plug-in hybrid that will sit under the Karma in Fisker's range with a price that will likely hover around the $50,000 (equal to €37,800) mark, or about half the cost of the larger Karma sedan.

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BMW i8 Spyder Concept Photos Leaked Ahead of Beijing Auto Show Debut

A Czech website has dropped the first photos of BMW's new i8 Spyder Concept. And since some of you may be wondering if they're real or not, we asked around and can confirm their authenticity as sources told us that the study will make its world premiere at the Auto China Show in Beijing at the end of April.

The open-top study is based on the production-intent i8 Coupe Concept that we've seen in several shows this past year.

Aside from the absence of the roof and the elimination of the rear seats, the Spyder also sports solid instead of transparent, rotating doors with different mirror housings and a restyled boot section.

The Spyder retains the i8 coupe's plug-in hybrid powertrain with a mid/rear mounted 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline engine developing 220HP (164kW) and 300 Nm (221 lb.ft) connected to the rear wheels, and an electric motor driving the front wheels.

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Infiniti Introduces 2012 M35h with Improved Fuel Economy and Lower CO2 Emissions

Infiniti has released details on its new model year M35h hybrid that will roll out across Europe in the forthcoming weeks. There are no styling or equipment changes to the 2012 M35h as Infiniti focused on improving the hybrid model's fuel efficiency and CO2 emission figures.

To do so, the Japanese brand's engineers made key enhancements to electric motor accuracy and battery charging, which allow the M35h to rely more on electric power when starting off from cold.

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Obama’s EV Strategy and Energy Department Spending Questioned by House Panel

The Obama administration has put a lot of weight behind electric and alternative-fuel cars, offering tax incentives in order to increase their sales and reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

According to a DetNews report, the chairman of the House Science Committee’s panel on energy and environment, Andy Harris, has sent a letter to Energy Secretary Steven Chu requesting information about Obama’s proposal to spend more than US$1 billion in tax incentives and related infrastructure.

In his letter, Harris questions the proposed increase of tax incentives by US$2,500 for buyers of “clean” vehicles. He says that, according to GM, the average Chevrolet Volt owner has an annual income of US$170,000.

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Acura's New Flagship Sedan will be Called RLX, will Debut in New York Next Week

We already knew that Acura is planning to debut a brand-new replacement for its RL flagship sedan (pictured above) at the 2012 New York Auto Show in early April, but while the company has yet to make it official, Wards Auto learned that it will be named RLX.

The news came from Acura's vice president Jeff Conrad, during a media event for the ILX compact sedan and the redesigned RDX crossover.

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