Car shows

Mazda takes a stab at wrapping its new "Kodo: Soul of Motion" design language around the lithe proportions of a sporty sedan in December, when it will debut its Takeri concept at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show.

The inverted, pentagonal grille and angry eyes of the Kodo style, which debuted first on the Shinari concept and will hit the road on the CX-5 small crossover, seem particularly suited for the Takeri sedan. From the looks of the photos, this could eventually manifest as the next incarnation of the Mazda6 midsize sedan. The Takeri isn't just a pretty … Read more

The 2012 Ford Focus Electric, 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas, 2012 Mitsubishi i, 2012 Toyota Prius v, and 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI are all finalists for 2012 Green Car of the Year, Green Car Journal announced today in a press release.

The winner will be announced during a press conference at a Los Angeles Auto Show press day on November 17. This marks the seventh consecutive year the award has been given out.

Green Car Journal editors considered dozens of models that were designed to reduce their environmental impact and be more energy-efficient. According to the press release, the cars … Read more

Rennsport Reunion IV gathered Porsches of all vintages for a weekend of racing at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

The fourth Rennsport Reunion was held October 14-16, 2011, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, and CNET was there to soak it all in. The previous three events were all held on the east coast, so this was the West Coast's first chance to bask in more than 50 years of Porsche racing glory. Everywhere we looked, fantastic examples of Porsche's most decorated cars were lurking, with 50 or so drivers from throughout the decades also on hand to tell stories … Read more

There will literally be hundreds of custom cars and tricked-out trucks filling the halls and parking lots of the Las Vegas Convention Center when the 2011 SEMA Show rolls through between November 1 and 4. (Don't believe me? Check out last year's coverage for a glimpse of the 2010 turnout.) This year, as in years prior, one of those rides will be digitally immortalized as part of Sony/Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo series of racing sims.

People exhibiting or displaying a car or truck at the 2011 SEMA Show can enter their ride in one of five … Read more

The 2011 SEMA Show--the hottest, largest aftermarket automotive show in the world--is but one short month away and with its approach comes a deluge of hot custom cars and aftermarket accessories that will be vying for our attention from the show floor. The first to catch our attention is this hopped-up Hyundai Veloster customized by ARK Performance.

ARK starts with the Veloster's 1.6-liter GDI engine and sporty, but economical, suspension setup but eventually upgrades darn near everything with a jaw-dropping list of performance parts. Power upgrades start with an ARK turbocharger and front-mount intercooler and terminate with a … Read more

Honda debuted a CR-V concept today at the Orange County International Auto Show in Anaheim, but don't expect gullwing doors, cameras instead of rear view mirrors, or some new, revolutionary electric power train. This CR-V is a preview of the 2012 model update, the production version of which Honda will show off in November.

The concept reveals new styling, and Honda says the new CR-V will have more cabin space, a redesigned interior, and better fuel economy than the current model.

The redesign gives the CR-V a much more modern look than the previous generation, which has gone for five years without a significant update. The headlights are integrated with the grille, and a skid-plate-looking piece rises up from under the front of the car. … Read more

FRANKFURT--Daimler AG is considering selling all five variants of the new Mercedes-Benz compact A and B class family in the United States, said CEO Dieter Zetsche. The first U.S. model will go on sale in 2013.

Mercedes-Benz unveiled the first member of the range--the next-generation B-class four-door--at the Frankfurt auto show and said that model will be sold in the United States. U.S. prices were not announced; in Germany, the four-door will cost 26,000 euros, or about $35,500, when it goes on sale this year.

The new platform also is being used for a B-class four-door … Read more

Hyundai i30 The previous generation i30 made its way to the U.S. market as an Elantra hatchback variant, so there's a chance that the newly announced i30 could also wear the Elantra Touring badge.

Jaguar C-X16 concept Easily one of the best looking concepts at the show, this small grand tourer features a powerful gasoline engine that is supplemented with an electric motor that supplies an instant power boost at the touch of a button.

Volkswagen Nils concept The VW Nils has a tailpipe emission of nil, as it's powered by a small electric engine. There's … Read more

Automotive equipment supplier Valeo put a new twist on its Park4U system at the 2011 International Motor Show in Frankfurt this week. It enabled the system to be controlled from an iPhone.

A Valeo representative stood outside the car, a Volkswagen Sharan, and parked it merely by using an iPhone app. The car, going in reverse, turned its wheel to slot into a narrow, perpendicular parking spot between two other cars.

But this technology is not as futuristic as it looks. The Volkswagen Sharan, a model not available in the United States, can already be had with Valeo's Park4U … Read more