2011 Chevy Cruze Appears as Daewoo Lacetti Premier in Korea

2011 Chevy Cruze Appears as Daewoo Lacetti Premier in Korea

While GM is making us live with the Cobalt until at least 2011, GM launched the Delta platform replacement in South Korea a year before Europe will get the car and at least two years before the U.S. does.

The Chevy Cruze (as it will be called elsewhere) launches as the Daewoo Lacetti Premier with the 140 hp, 1.6-liter engine shown at the Paris Motor Show. The engine reportedly gets more than 40 mpg highway thanks to a six-speed automatic transmission. While we won't be seeing the Cruze for several years, this should at least give a realistic preview of the fuel economy it can achieve and continue to make Americans jealous as the rest of the world gets superior next-generation vehicles years before they come to the U.S.

Coming off the summer's cash for clunkers blitz, GM dealers are scrambling to keep their inventories at proper levels. The dealers have asked for up to four times more vehicles than the automaker planned on producing.

For example, dealers have asked for 30,000 Chevrolet Equinoxes, while the initial plans were only for 8000 to be built. "We have very little excess inventory, we're at record lows right now, and we're ramping up production." Tom Stephens, GM's head of global product development, told the Detroit News.

The added demand not only came from the recent government program, but also the new 60-day guarantee that went into action Monday. "Showroom traffic is getting better and consumer confidence is improving," said Stephens

Not all of the requested vehicles will necessarily be built. The requests do, however, give the automaker a good idea of the current demand.

Automakers are planning to use smaller displacement engines to meet increasing fuel economy standards and BMW is no exception. BMW is planning to bring four-cylinder engines back to the U.S. in the next-generation 3-series by 2012.

BMW has not offered a four-cylinder model in the U.S. since 1999, but in 2012, we will see a four-cylinder 3-series make a resurgence on our shores equipped with twin-turbochargers like the 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline six-cylinder.

Jim O’Donnell, CEO of BMW North America, said that BMW will be able to reach U.S. fuel economy standards before 2015 by re-introducing four-cylinders to the U.S. The fuel economy standard O’Donnell is referring to is the 35.5 mpg average fuel economy standard set to take effect in 2016, with a 5 percent increase per year beginning in 2012.

In addition to adding four-cylinders to the 3-series, BMW is considering adding four-cylinder gasoline engines to the 1-series and its X1 and X3 crossovers in the U.S. BMW already offers both four-cylinder gasoline and diesel versions of the 1- and 3-series and X1 and X3 crossovers.

“We see potentially a significant market that could get to 100,000 four-cylinder engines in the U.S.,” said O’Donnell.

If the clay model shown above looks anything like a Toyota iQ, there's a good reason for it. Aston Martin's latest concept, the Cygnet, is based heavily on Toyota's Smart ForTwo fighter.

Indeed, from this photograph of an early clay model, it seems much of the iQ's design remains untouched. Aston designers are largely playing with the Toyota's front fascia, adding the brand's traditional grille, hood scoops, and an aggressive front fascia.

Given its legacy and portfolio, we wouldn't expect Aston to play in the microcar segment, but the firm believes the Cygnet could appeal to Aston buyers. Like a dinghy or tender on a yacht, a DB9 owner could use a Cygnet for urban commuting, while the sports car could be reserved for open roads and long trips. We imagine there's a second reason behind the Cygnet: If placed in production, it would help improve Aston Martin's overall emission and fuel economy averages.

“Now is the right time for Aston Martin to take this bold first step,” said CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez. “Much work is still required, but I am confident that this project could become reality in the not to distant future.”

Unfortunately for those hoping to see a Honda-built alternative to the Nissan GT-R emerge within the next few years, the rumored Acura NSX is still dead - at least in the form of an exotic sports car.

Speaking with Car and Driver, John Watts, the senior manager of product development for the Honda luxury brand, said the NSX as planned was "too high a halo," but a scaled-down version of the NSX is still a prospect.

"For it to be fully effective, it couldn't be too far removed" from Honda's other products, he said. In an automotive world that has become highly focused on fuel efficiency, Honda probably couldn't afford the negative green cred - let alone the high development price tag - of a high-performance car to compete with the GT-R.

In all likelihood, an Acura sports car would compete with a car like the Nissan Z. Sad as it is that we may not see a V-10 NSX anytime soon, the silver lining is that we may still see a new sports car out of Honda yet.

Roush has just announced a pair of 2010 Mustangs with 540 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque each. Those are a huge improvement over the stock numbers of 315 and 325, respectively.

The 225 hp and 185 lb.-ft. increases come from the signature Roush supercharger. Stronger internals and lowered compression ratio (9.8 down to 8.6) help keep the engine in one piece.

Roush continues to amaze us with its Stage 3 version. Based on the 2010 Ford Mustang GT, the Stage 3 is loaded with improvements. Upgrades include a new exhaust, 14-inch front rotors with four-piston calipers, optional 20-inch rims and an array of body components including a new grille.

Interior enhancements include embroidered Jack Roush signature leather seats, illuminated sill plates, and an engraved badge with the car's serial number.

The Stage 3 will be offered in a limited supply of 103 examples with a price tag of $59,945.

The Roush 540RH is the sleeper model of the two. Sharing the same power numbers as the Stage 3, the 540RH will be less likely to get you pulled over for looks alone. The 540RH contains the same suspension and engine modifications as the Stage 3 at a somewhat more reasonable price of $46,145.

If you are interested, now would be a good time to visit your local Ford dealership. The cars will begin shipping in October.

It's hard to make Ford's Super Duty any bigger, bolder, or beefier, but the automaker did just that with its revised 2011 model.

Like the past few iterations of the Super Duty, the 2011 model’s exterior is largely derived from the truck launched in 1999. Ford’s designers have added an even more brash front fascia, with gigantic headlamps (reportedly the largest ever used on any Ford product), a chunkier front grille, and a massive blue oval logo. The previous model’s gargantuan fender vents are replaced by a new, “constrained” vent located above the beltline, but diesel models receive a massive Power Stroke emblem on the front doors.

If the size of that emblem doesn’t indicate how proud Ford is of its new diesel offering, we don’t know what will. The new 6.7-liter turbo-diesel V-8 was designed completely in-house, and uses a relatively innovative architecture that places the exhaust and turbocharger inboard the engine’s V. Ford claims that engine packaging, noise and vibration, and throttle response are all improved as a result.

Those who prefer a gas-fired motor can choose between either an improved version of the current 5.4-liter V-8, or an all-new 6.2-liter V-8. The latter, which will also appear in the extreme F-150 Raptor, is an new large-bore, short-stroke design, and uses variable cam timing, along with twin spark plugs at each cylinder. Like the 5.4-liter V-8 and the new Power Stroke, Ford isn’t revealing output figures, but says peak horsepower will arrive at a “modest” 5500 rpm.

Both the 6.2-liter gas and 6.7-liter diesel engines are available with Ford’s new six-speed “TorqShift” automatic transmission. Unlike competitor’s transmissions, the Ford gearbox can be shifted manually in addition to traditional automatic or “range-select” modes. Diesel models can also be fitted with an optional live PTO, which continues to send power to auxiliary equipment even if the truck isn’t moving.

Inside, changes are limited. A new flow-through center console now runs all the way up to the instrument panel, while every seat receives a lockable underseat storage compartment. Ford’s also added a nifty LCD screen to the gauge cluster, which allows drivers to view a range of information, and even preset trailer brake settings for different trailers. Ford’s also catering to the towing crowd by offering a fifth-wheel substructure, directly attached to the truck's frame, as a factory-installed option.

We expect to hear finalized power and pricing figures closer to when the new Super Duty reaches dealers in the spring of 2010.