We obsessively cover the auto industry

Stanford has taken to playing with vintage Porsche racers as part of the institution's research on the interaction between driver and vehicle. By swaddling a 1960 Porsche Abarth Carrera in GPS antennae, motion sensors and laser measuring equipment to monitor the vehicle's suspension geometry, distance from the road surface and well as the position of the steering wheel, Stanford scientists are collecting a massive amount of data about how a non-computer assisted vehicle handles at the edge of control. The hope is that the data will be helpful in future efforts to better engineer traction control systems.

In addition to wiring up classic German sheetmetal, the researchers are also keeping track of how the driver is handling the vehicle at speed. With sensors feeding information on sweat, heart rate and adrenaline levels, researchers are beginning to paint a picture of how the best drivers anticipate, perceive and respond to high-speed handling situations. Hit the jump to check out a video of this fascinating research.

Spy photographers have managed to snap a few quick shots of the wagon variant of the upcoming 2013 Ford Mondeo/Fusion undergoing testing in the Alps. The lightly camouflaged hauler is our best look yet at how Ford plans to translate the design language from the Evos Concept displayed at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show onto production vehicles. No one is saying whether or not Ford is planning to actually offer a Fusion Wagon in the States, of course. We see that as highly unlikely, though the long-roof lines are plenty becoming on the Australian-based family cruiser.

Ford is likely, however, to keep the Fusion Hybrid alive for the next generation, and we expect it to pack enough efficiency enhancements to give the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid a run for its battery-operated money.

When the upcoming Marvel reunion The Avengers hits the silver screen, it promises to be packed with action. Action heros like Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America... and a new Acura NSX.

Wait, what? That's right: if the latest rumors from Auto Express prove true, that mystery Acura supercar that Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) has been spied driving on the set of the upcoming superhero flick will be our first glimpse at the new supercar from Honda's premium marque.

The neo-NSX will reportedly pack the through-the-road all-wheel-drive hybrid drivetrain from the 2001 Honda Dual Note concept, encompassing a 3.5 to 3.7-liter V6 driving the rear wheels and an electric hub motor in each of the front wheels.

Tipped to be priced to take on the Nissan GT-R, the new NSX could be the Honda supercar we've been waiting for. For its part, Honda officials continue to deny that Tony Stark's car is representative of a new NSX, so we'll believe it when we see it (and we don't just mean at the movies).

Fans of large displacement and forced induction (isn't that everyone?) can officially rejoice today as the recently approved deal between Ford and the United Auto Workers has answered a question that's been on our minds ever since Chevrolet upped the horsepower ante with its Camaro ZL1. Yes, folks, the 2013 Shelby GT500 will be blessed with a 5.8-liter supercharged V8 engine.

While conventional wisdom has always been that the easiest way to increase horsepower and torque was to bore-and-stroke your way to more displacement, an interesting series of spy shots showing one conspicuously oversize intercooler led some to believe Ford was ditching the supercharger in favor of twin turbos. Not so, apparently. Ford's latest contract with the UAW reveals that its Romeo Engine Assembly Plant will receive a $50 million investment to build the 5.8L supercharged mill.

Naturally, contract talk doesn't include a whiff on horsepower or torque, but you can bet Ford is planning on eking out more than the 580 horses that Chevy has corralled from the 2012 Camaro ZL1. Something around 600 seems like a safe bet, but we'll just have to wait for an official announcement from Ford. In the meantime, sweet supercharged dreams.

Our long-term 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman All4 has served out its time in Northern California and is set to head down to LA later this month. But before it departs the sunny side of the bay, I've got some closing thoughts after a few months behind the wheel.

To begin with, Mini has succeeded in creating a livable, entertaining crossover that's nothing if not unique and hasn't diluted the brand's core values... much. Particularly in S and All4 guise, the Countryman has just the right amount of sport to keep us interested and enough functionality to make it an everyday vehicle. Sure, I'd like a little more cargo space, but there's ample room for a family of three – maybe four – to make a weekend trip up to the hills or out to the coast and enjoy the spaces in between.

According to a post by TDI Club, Volkswagen has issued a stop-sale on all 2009-2012 Jetta, Jetta Sportwagen and Golf TDI vehicles equipped with the company's 2.0-liter TDI turbo-diesel engine pending a voluntary safety recall. It's unclear whether or not the 2012 Passat will also be impacted. In a written communication attributed to Volkswagen, the problem stems from the fact that the fuel injector pulse rate happens to occur at the same natural frequency as injector line number two. Over time, the line could fail. That's especially true on certain lines manufactured with tube material that contains scratch marks from a grinding process. Volkswagen says that the inferior piece can't stand up to the stress of the injector pulse rate.

Vehicles manufactured in December 2008, January through February 2009, April 2010 and October through December 2010 all contain the faulty part. The document states that the automaker is currently working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to establish a recall.

Autoblog spoke with a Volkswagen representative who said that in order for any recall to be official, it will have to go through NHTSA (though we're thinking the same can't be said of a stop-sale).

If you were to design your own engine for today's automotive market, what features would it include? Aluminum construction? Direct injection? Turbocharging? Variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust? Small displacement but a high output? Try all of these features and you're looking at the latest powerplant developed by Alfa Romeo and Fiat Powertrain Technologies.

The 1.8-liter turbo four leverages the latest developments in engine technology for an output as high as 300 horsepower while still meeting the most stringent emissions standards on the horizon (including the upcoming U.S. Tier 2 Bin 5 regulations, which bodes well for its eventual American application).

It's the engine that's expected to power the production 4C sportscar, and given that it's designed to be mounted either behind the cabin or in front, longitudinally or transversely, it will surely find its way into other Alfas as well. (Maybe a couple of future Dodge products, too) And when it does, we hope it won't lose much in output, because 300 galloping stallions and an Alfa Romeo badge on the nose sounds to us like a recipe for success.

Details in the press release after the jump, with fresh high-resolution images of the 4C in its original matte red finish added to the gallery for your viewing pleasure.

Volkswagen has finally released official U.S. pricing and specs on the 2012 Golf R. The meanest hatch in the company's stable will set you back $33,990 (*plus destination). That's a sizeable chunk of change, to be sure, but it will net you the most powerful Golf production engine to be sold in the States. At 256 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, the turbocharged 2.0-liter turns out six more horsepower than the 2008 Golf R32 VR6 while sucking down less fuel. Volkswagen says that the company's internal estimates put the 2012 Golf R at 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. That's an impressive jump compared to Environmental Protection Agency estimates of 18 mpg city and 23 mpg highway for 2008 R32.

The 2.0 TFSI four-cylinder engine is bolted to a six-speed manual transmission and a Haldex all-wheel drive system, and the car will be offered in both two- and four-door bodystyles. Volkswagen has also taken the time to sharpen the vehicle's suspension even beyond what the already lithe GTI has to offer. Changes include a larger, tubular anti-roll bar up front and a four-link rear with three lateral control arms. Hit the jump for the press release.

We can appreciate a well-orchestrated prank as much as the next guy. But being the car nuts we are, we'd implore any would-be prankster to leave cars out of it. TP the guy's house, Saran-wrap the toilet, make a crank call or two if you must. But for the love of all things holy, please leave the cars alone.

At least that's what we thought before we saw the kind of candid-camera prank the BMW Performance Parts team had in store for one driver in Singapore. The proud owner of a 1 Series Coupe returned to her car in the parking lot to find her car fitted with a Performance Power Kit and an upgraded exhaust system. It's a marketing schtick that reminds us of TV shows like Overhaulin', but at least it's sort of car prank we can get on board with. Check it out after the jump, and be mindful of a little bit of Not Safe For Work language.

Decent Fuel Economy, Better Looks, Solid Value



The auto show transition seemed to happen in a flash. One year, automakers were jockeying for dealer traffic with high horsepower, rear-wheel-drive retro rides, and the next year, each one of them ushered in a hybrid or electric vehicle. The paradigm shift was a welcome sight for car buyers wanting to shrink their carbon footprint and save money on fuel, but the majority of those products were years from production. Fast-forward to 2011, and the variety of fuel efficient transportation on offer in the industry has improved quite a bit, including this sleekly styled mid-size offering from Hyundai.

The Sonata Hybrid may have taken longer than expected to hit the market, but its lithium-polymer battery pack and host of fuel-saving features have given Hyundai 35 miles per gallon city and 40 mpg highway fuel economy numbers to flash before consumers. And the Sonata Hybrid isn't battling the competition on fuel economy alone. It also features attractive styling that sharply differentiates it from non-hybrid Sonata models, while also carrying an MSRP thousands of dollars less than the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Ford Fusion Hybrid.

We spent a week with a modestly equipped Sonata Hybrid, but rather than going light on the pedal to gather up as many Eco points as possible, we drove it like we would any mid-sized sedan to see if it could hang with the daily drudgery of suburban life.

Our crafty spy photographer have managed to set lenses upon a completely undisguised 2012 Porsche Boxster S out and about in the light of day. With all of the vehicle's camouflage removed, we can clearly see the body lines of the new convertible. Though the familiar Porsche face hasn't gone anywhere, the side of the vehicle now wears a dramatic side strake and sizable air inlet positioned just forward of a set of equally bold wheel arches. Those openings are filled with massive, multi-spoke rollers. Toward the rear of the vehicle, we can clearly see a new integrated lip spoiler that spans across the entirety of the car's rump, bisecting the taillamps.

That's exciting and all, but our spies also indicate that this model may boast a next-generation 2.5-liter flat four-cylinder. If those whispers are to be believed, the 2012 Boxster could pack as much as 360 horsepower courtesy of a little forced induction. Word is the vehicle will receive a proper introduction on the show circuit in the next few months.

General Motors has officially unveiled the company's global 2012 Chevrolet Colorado in Thailand. The automaker says the truck is the culmination of a vehicle program that spanned five years, $2 billion and five continents. What did all that effort come up with? For starters, buyers in Thailand will be able to chose between a pair of new turbo-diesel four-cylinder Duramax engines. The engines are available in both 2.5-liter and 2.8-liter displacements, with the smaller lump producing 150 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.

The larger, 2.8-liter turbo diesel yields 180 hp and a very impressive 346 lb-ft of torque. For reference, that's just 20 horsepower shy of the base 4.8-liter V8 in the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, but it's also 41 more lb-ft of torque. GM hasn't released any fuel economy estimates on either diesel engine, but both can be mated to either a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive versions of the Colorado make use of a two-speed, electronically actuated transfer case.

Will it come our way? GM isn't saying, but recent United Auto Workers deal-related news suggests that a mid-size truck like this one is being considered for the company's Wentzville plant near St. Louis. We've got our fingers crossed. Check out our high-res gallery and then hit the jump for the press release.

The Detroit News reports that the Honda Ridgeline isn't going anywhere any time soon. Sage Marie, manager of truck product planning at Honda, has said that the rumors of the vehicle's demise have been greatly exaggerated, and he says that the Ridgeline serves a key role in the company's product line. Marie also said that the truck will continue on into the foreseeable future. That's despite the fact that the model has seen its sales implode over the past few months. According to The Detroit News, Honda only managed to sell 6,500 Ridgeline models through the first nine months of this year.

Last year, the company sold 12,700 units during the same period.

While some of that drop can be attributed to production delays tied to the earthquake and tsunami disasters in Japan earlier this year, it's difficult to discern how much of the blame lies on a tired product or the continued improvement of fuel economy numbers on full-size trucks. Marie confirms that 2012 will see new aesthetic updates added to the Ridgeline along with the addition of the new Sport model pictured above.