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See the Scion FR-S concept in action...sort of

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of the Scion FR-S concept unveiled at the 2011 New York auto show. Journalistic objectivity aside, that car is hot! When I heard that Five Axis, the team that built the concept for Scion, was entering an FR-S into the 2011 Red Bull Soapbox Race in downtown Los Angeles, I had to check it out.

What came out of the build process was a tube framed, super deformed FR-S micro-car with space for a single driver. Power is provided by two men who push the FR-S; gravity takes over as … Read more

See the supercharged Honda CR-Z Mugen in action

Hey, do you remember that funky orange Honda CR-Z Mugen concept we showed you about a month ago? You know, the one with a supercharger that boosts power to 198 horsepower while keeping the IMA hybrid system intact? No? Well, take a minute and check the specs, then check out the freshly minted video below that showcases what's likely the coolest concept in Honda's current stable.

We could do without the massive wing spoiler, but for a nigh 200-pony sport compact offering Civic Type-R levels of performance, we think we'd be able to deal with it (or … Read more

Buick offers better fuel economy with direct injection

The new Buick lineup will offer big-engine performance with small-engine fuel economy thanks to the use of direct injection.

Direct injection works by using high-pressure direct injectors that deliver fuel to the point of combustion in the cylinder so fuel doesn't get left behind on manifold walls or evaporate up out of a carburetor. This process also reduces the temperature of the compressed mixture as the fuel evaporates, which enables a higher compression ratio, allows for more spark advance, and reduces fuel consumption.

"The beefier low-end torque and improved drivability of the direct-injected 2.0L turbo makes it … Read more

Nissan's mobile man cave

Nissan is angling to broaden commercial appeal of its cargo van by marketing the NV2500 as a mobile man cave.

To support Team Radio Shack on the Amgen Tour of California, Nissan kitted out a cargo van and turned it into what it described as a "man cave on wheels" equipped with satellite TV, bike tools, air hose, espresso machine, and bikes. The vehicle's maximum cargo height of 76.5 inches and nearly vertical sidewalls made it easy to accommodate aftermarket storage systems and cycling gear with enough space to stand and move around the interior. Occupants … Read more

Mitsubishi's 360-degree video of Bolivia's Death Road

Traversing Bolivia's Death Road is on a lot of people's bucket lists, but if hastening your end isn't one of your life's goals, Mitsubishi lets you experience the white-knuckle drive vicariously.

To prove the ruggedness and driving capabilities of the Mitsubishi Outlander and the Outlander Sport, the manufacturer recorded the 38 mile trip down Yungas Road using a 360 degree video camera. Mitsubishi's Web site contains photo slideshows and short videos that piece together an abridged version of the dangerous journey on the winding, narrow road that starts in the Bolivian city of La Paz … Read more

Nissan track-tests electric race car

At this year's New York auto show, Nissan showed off its Leaf Nismo RC, a race car based on the Leaf electric car. But rather than just making it an auto show spectacle, Nissan is track-testing the Leaf Nismo RC and looking to start a new race series.

In a video released by Nissan, Nismo driver Tsugio Matsuda puts the Leaf Nismo RC through its paces on a test track, offering positive commentary about the car's performance. Other moments of the video show track engineers removing body components and spraying water on the battery pack to cool it. … Read more

GM announces $2 billion investment and addition of 4,000 jobs at 17 U.S. plants

Since emerging from bankruptcy reorganization in mid-2009, General Motors has invested $3.4 billion and has added or saved more than 9,000 jobs. The U.S. automaker today announced an additional investment of $2 billion; an additional 4,000 jobs have been saved or created.

The announcement was made by GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson during an event at the 54-year-old Toledo Transmission Plant in Toledo, Ohio.

"We are doing this because we are confident about demand for our vehicles and the economy," Akerson said. The company also released an animated clip (after the jump) about … Read more

Mini Motorsport WRC shares team launch event on Facebook and YouTube

Huge drifts and squealing tires (in the video below) marked the launch of the new Mini WRC Team at the Mini Plant in Oxford, England. Mini shared that launch on the Mini motorsport Web site, Facebook and YouTube.

Monday's event marked the official launch of the team that will compete in six rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) with the Mini John Cooper Works WRC. Based on the Mini Countryman production model, the car is powered by the same 1.6-liter turbo engine used in Mini production vehicles.

The team's first chance at competition, with drivers … Read more

Kia debuts EV concept Naimo

Kia debuted its electric car concept Naimo (pronounced "Neh-mo") at the 2011 Seoul Motor Show.

Named for its square shape, the Naimo looks a little like a scaled-down Pontiac Aztek without B-pillars. By using carriage doors and a hatchback, the four-seater maintains a small footprint with a length of just under 13 feet, putting its size somewhere between a Mini Cooper and a Mini Clubman. It also forgoes traditional windshield wipers, and instead uses a high-intensity air jet at the base of the windshield to blow off rain and water. You may have experienced similar technology at your … Read more