We obsessively cover the auto industry…

Mercedes-Benz took a moment at the Paris Motor Show to display its Aesthetics S Concept. Built as a combination static, physical sculpture and audio-visual presentation, the design exercise lends a glimpse at what we can expect to see from the next-generation S-Class. Mercedes-Benz projected a number of scenes onto the relief to highlight the design's lines and lineage, including images of W189, W108 and W126 S-Class models. Aligning the images of the S-Class ancestors with the new designs is a clever way to draw parallels between new and old.

Gordon Wagener, head of design for Mercedes-Benz, says the Aesthetics S Concept does more than point toward what's coming down the pike for the S-Class. The display also outlines what's in store for the rest of the company's products. Take a look at the Aesthetics S Concept in the video below for a better idea of what the next-generation of Mercedes-Benz products may look like.

If you remember the Bloodhound Supser Sonic Car, you know the team behind the monstrosity is out to make sure the land-speed record remains in British custody for the foreseeable future. Currently, the record sits at 763 miles per hour, set by the ThrustSSD in 1997, but the Bloodhound gang wants to see that number upped to 1,050 mph. On land.

For those of you who are counting, that's Mach 1.4.

The team is already well on its way. It just completed the first test firing of its rocket system, and the get up produces a whopping 14,000 pounds of thrust.

The engine sucks down a liquid peroxide and solid synthetic rubber fuel mix and will work in conjunction with a Cosworth CA2010 F1 V8 engine to scoot the Boodhound down the salt flats. If that's not cool enough to ice your cucumbers, the whole kit was designed by 28-year-old, self-trained rocket engineer Daniel Jubb. Look out below for a video of the test run, completed in the safety of a bomb shelter.

Automotive News reports General Motors has no interest in selling Opel. The statement comes after an Italian newspaper implied Fiat was ready to buy the brand should the alliance between GM and PSA/Peugeot Citroen fail. The publication reported that Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is already crafting a proposal to acquire the German brand in the event GM calls it quits, using a strategy similar to the one that saw Fiat win Chrysler.

Fiat has declined to comment on the situation, but GM Vice Chairman Stephen Grisky said in a statement that GM stands behind Opel and that the brand is "a fully integrated part of GM's global footprint."

Grisky also said the GM-PSA alliance is still strong.

This isn't the first time rumors have swirled around Fiat's lust for Opel. The Italian brand attempted to buy Opel once before in 2009 when GM was briefly in bankruptcy. The American manufacturer eventually settled on keeping Opel, however. Meanwhile, Marchionne has said the European auto industry will have to consolidate if it is to survive the region's economic downturn.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation following complaints from drivers that the sunroofs on the Hyundai Veloster are prone to spontaneously exploding.

There are 15 complaints in the NHTSA database from drivers who say they heard a loud bang, and then sat through a downpour of glass.

One woman said she was driving home from getting her first oil change and tire rotation on the Veloster.

"All of the sudden there was a loud bang like a gunshot, and I heard something raining down on my car," reads the complaint, which is listed without any identifying information in the NHTSA database. "I looked in the mirror and saw glass flying everywhere... The glass was in my hair, down the back of my shirt and my pants."

All of the incidents happened on very new models, with less than 3,000 miles on the odometer. Two people said the roof exploded while the car was parked. One person was hosing the car down in the driveway when the glass shattered. This person said the glass flew as far as six feet away from the car.

Jim Trainor, a spokesman for Hyundai, said the company is working with NHTSA to look into the problem.

"Our evaluation is in the very early stages and Hyundai is in the process of examining each report," Trainor said. "As always, we will work closely with NHTSA on this evaluation."

The basics of supply and demand, even in a market as curated as global petroleum is, are fairly easy to understand. Today's example: southern California, where some stations are beginning to run out of gas due to "refinery supply problems" at both Chevron and Mobil, reports USA Today. The result? Prices could hit $5-a-gallon soon. AAA says that the average in California today is $4.486 a gallon, well above the national average of $3.789 and making a run on the $4.61 record from June 2008.

Since some gas stations are no longer buying wholesale fuel, the tanks are running dry. USA Today notes that a Costco in Simi Valley started selling premium (which was available) at regular prices (since that fuel was not available). Another station owner told Bloomberg, "I can get gas, but it's going to cost me $4.90 a gallon, and I can't sell it here for $5. ... My market is open, but no gas." He can't sell it for $5 today, but with California prices jumping 20 cents overnight and 40 cents for the week, that could change soon. In fact, a station in Calabasas was selling gas for $5.69 yesterday, along with signs that said: "We are sorry, it is not our fault."

Audi's first-generation Q7, introduced more than six years ago, already has one foot out the door and the oil-burning engine in its TDI model recently met its successor – but that is no reason to discredit this soon-to-be-replaced seven-passenger sport utility vehicle. I recently spent a week with a 2012 Q7 TDI and found myself awfully impressed.

• The huge TDI stickers on the front doors were a bit garish, but they called to attention the 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel under the hood (it is rated at 225 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque). Mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and forced to lug around 5,291 pounds, the heavy Q7 TDI accelerated to 60 mph in about 8.5 seconds.
• While the diesel Q7 is quite a bit slower than its supercharged 3.0T sibling, the payoff is impressive fuel economy (EPA 17 city and 25 highway). I averaged 18.3 mpg overall in mixed driving, which aligns well with the official numbers, and never found its power or torque a shortcoming.
• Base price for the Q7 TDI is $51,450 (plus $875 destination), but our Prestige model was bundled with two different S line performance packages which added a whopping $18,300 to the bottom line bringing its as-tested price to $70,625. That's a lot of money, but the Q7 delivers a solid mix of luxury, utility and envious on- and off-road prowess.
• The six-mode adaptive air suspension (lift, off-road, comfort, auto, dynamic and cargo settings) delivered a comfortably firm ride while doing a fine job masking the weight of the 21-inch alloy wheels (each wearing wide 295/35R21 tires). The Q7 is heavy, but handling limits were surprisingly high. This equated to a fun-to-drive experience from behind the wheel.
• The interior ergonomics are far from optimal, from a confusing array of buttons and switches to duplicate user inputs (there is a fully functional ignition key slot, a redundant start button and a completely separate stop button). However, and in typical Audi fashion, the interior fit, finish, upholstery and appointments are top-notch and passengers will feel pampered in the front two rows - leave the third row for the kids.
• Audi's biggest SUV faces some stiff competition as other automakers introduce lighter and more fuel efficient diesel models. Nevertheless, the 2012 Q7 TDI has aged particularly well and few can match its sporty, yet still very fuel efficient, demeanor. It's a sweet ride.

Hitting at least 40 miles per gallon is practically a necessity to compete in the compact car segment these days, and the 2013 Dodge Dart has hit this mark with the all-new Aero package. The Dart Aero is Dodge's fuel economy package for the car that starts at $19,295 (not including the $795 destination charge), and while Hyundai has been saving the asterisks since 2010, many other automakers use a similar method to get that magic 40-mpg rating onto the Monroney label.

The Dart Aero receives Fiat's 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo I4 and numerous other changes to hit up to 41 mpg highway with the manual transmission which is an improvement of 2 mpg alone over Chrysler's initial estimates for the car. Opting for the new dual dry clutch transmission will drop the highway number to an even 40 mpg – cars with either transmission are rated at 28 mpg city and 32 mpg combined. These are significant gains over initial Dart models with the 2.0-liter engine that were rated at up to 25 mpg city/36 mpg highway/29 mpg combined. This new engine also delivers the same 160 horsepower as the base engine, but it adds an extra 36 pound-feet of torque rated at 184 lb-ft.

Other than the new engine and the advanced DDCT gearbox, the Dart Aero was able to deliver such an improvement in fuel economy courtesy of a lower profile, active grille shutters, underbody aero kit and low-rolling resistance tires.

Compared to the base 2013 Dart, the Aero package is a $3,300 premium, but cars like the Focus SFE, Civic HF, Cruze Eco, Mazda3 Skyactiv and Jetta TDI all charge a premium for playing in the 40-mpg sandbox. Included in this higher price, the Dart Aero comes standard with some of the Dart's unique features like the 8.4-inch media center, the Dart's seven-inch TFT gauge cluster and one of the car's most stylish elements, the LED "racetrack" taillights.

It isn't clear when the Dart Aero will be on sale, but Chrysler says that the car went into production over the summer. Scroll down to read the full press release on this car.

Catastrophic engine failure... not exactly what you want to hear no matter what you're driving, but especially so when you've just purchased a brand-new 2013 BMW M5 or M6.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "a manufacturing process error" could cause the oil pump's driveshaft to separate from its rotor, leading "to a sudden loss of oil pressure causing the possibility of complete engine failure, resulting in an engine stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash."

As is always the case with such recalls, BMW will be contacting owners and dealerships with plans to fix the problem free of charge. On the plus side, we'd imagine some owners already know of the problem, considering the brand issued a stop sale notice on the M5 and M6 on September 21.

In kinda-sorta related news (hey, Mini is owned by BMW after all), a recall notice has also been issued for certain 2011 Mini Clubman and Clubman S models regarding a glitch that may cause owners to miss an in-dash warning for malfunctioning ABS brakes. Not exactly catastrophic engine failure, and it only affects 75 cars, says NHTSA, but you can find both recalls in their entirety below.

Factory tuning house Mugen has taken it upon itself to cure what ails the Honda CR-Z. The centerpiece of the Honda CR-Z Mugen RZ is a specially-developed supercharger, which bumps the 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine's output to 153 horsepower. That's a nudge of 30 horses over the standard hybrid, though the hatchback's integrated motor assist system still delivers an extra 20 horsepower when needed. Mugen also threw in a titanium cat-back exhaust system to help the engine breathe a bit easier. The company swapped the stock suspension components for five-way adjustable coilovers, and the brake system received a complete overhaul as well.

Up front, the CR-Z Mugen RZ makes use of 11.8-inch rotors pressed by reinforced calipers, sterner pads and braided stainless lines. Of course, this wouldn't be a Mugen product without a new body kit, and the company's designers served up a reworked front fascia, adjustable front spoiler, side skirts, rear diffuser and, of course, a wing. Inside, the reworked CR-Z uses special blue and black seats, a new steering wheel and shift knob.

Mugen will start to sell 300 completed CR-Zs on November 26, in Japan only, sadly. Take a look at the full press release below for more information.

Mazda Makes a Marvelous Mid-Sizer



It's well known that Mazda is working through some corporate challenges at the moment, but the company's second-half news has been, in general, far better than the headlines from the first half. Global sales are up 12 percent, the CX-5 has sold 200,000 units worldwide and U.S. dealers are begging for more inventory. There's also a new factory on the way in Mexico that will assuage the profit-killing exchange-rate woes of building cars in Japan, and the next-generation MX-5 Miata – whenever it arrives – is going to bring an Alfa Romeo roadster with it.

Still, at the moment, it's probably true that there is more love for Mazda – or perhaps there's actually more nostalgia – than sales traction.

The company would like its brand new midsize segment competitor to change that.

So in one corner we have the 2014 Mazda6. In the other corner we have the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Volkswagen Passat and Chevrolet Malibu. That is not an exciting list for a car enthusiast, but arrayed en masse it's like Neo taking on the endless Agent Smiths in the playground scene in The Matrix: Reloaded – what the other cars lack in individual character they more than make up for in suffocating, sledgehammer numbers. Example: Mazda's entire export production – that's every one of its models that it sells in every other landmass besides Japan – in August 2012 was 44,495. That same month there were 36,270 Camrys sold in the United States alone.

The Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S have been struck by a minor gremlin, but the repair is turning into an episode that ends with "Stay Tuned" rather than a definite conclusion. Automotive News reports that a software mapping hiccup can cause the adaptive engine ECU to get out of whack with the engine, which can, in turn, cause rough idling and stalling.

Toyota said the issue does "involve the variable valve timing," but both Subaru and Toyota say the issue is entirely about the software, that the ECU can develop a "handshake issue" with the engine after having an unfavorable "reaction to normal mechanical variations" in a small number of cases.

The two automakers diverge on the remedy, however. After 100 miles of learning the powertrain and the driver's driving style, AN reports that the ECU's mapping is pretty much baked in. If engine operation exceeds the established parameters, at low revs the engine succumbs to uneven idling and stalling as the ECU tries to recalibrate to a new range of tolerances. Toyota has said that if the issue is suffered by a car with less than 100 miles, the ECU should be reflashed, but that cars with more than 100 miles should have their ECUs replaced. Subaru, though, has said that the ECU doesn't need to be replaced no matter the mileage – a reflash is all that's required. It appears that some owners who have had the reflash have suffered the problem again.

We don't have any hard numbers on how many of the coupes are afflicted and how many have been fixed, so it's impossible to know how big or little the issue is. But with the popularity of the twins and the vociferousness of the fans who queued up to buy them, the situation will either be adequately resolved or we'll be hearing a lot more about it soon enough.

Few cars stir up the rumormill quite like the next BMW M3. To that end, BMW fan-site BimmerPost was able to track down a source, apparently tied to the development of the next M3 (and M4), who divulged a few juicy bits on power, weight and timing.

Horsepower in the F80 M3 and F82 M4 is said to be close to that of the E90/E92, which was rated at 414 hp. This contrasts with previous reports that had horsepower pegged closer to 450. It should also be noted that BMW has been known to underrate the horsepower values for its engines. That said, the new turbocharged straight-six will supposedly develop 100 more pound-feet of torque over the current generation, too. The 4.0-liter S65 V8 found in the E90/E92 M3 developed 295 lb-ft, putting the new engine's torque in the 395 lb-ft neighborhood. We can live with that.

An equally interesting development regards the proposed weight of the new Ultimate Driving Machine. Apparently BMW is targeting the curb weight of the E46 M3. That older-generation Bimmer clocked in at about 3,400 pounds, while the E90/E92 M3 had grown to over 3,700 pounds. The 300-pound weight savings should come as welcome news to M3 purists, critical of the progressive weight gains from generation to generation.

For those interested in the aesthetic of the next performance-Bimmer, the F80/F82 update of the M3 is claimed to feature a more aggressive look, highlighted by a power bulge hood and larger fenders. That styling direction should not come as much of a surprise, as the more aggressive appearance is customary to the M3 by now and matches what we've seen in spy shots.

According to source, the F80 M3 sedan will debut first and come to market in early 2014. It will be followed by the M4 coupe, though exact timing was not revealed.

Escalating tensions between Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby and Volvo Vice Chairman Hans-Olov Olsson may be working against the Swedish brand's stated goals of regaining lost European market share, as well as remaining relevant as a luxury brand on the world stage.

Reports indicate that Jacoby and Olsson have clashed on statements made about Volvo group strategies, as well as butted heads on a "key executive appointment" in recent weeks.

Some of the conflict is by design, oddly enough, as new Chinese owner Geely intentionally brought Olsson back into the fold – the Swede is a former CEO of Volvo himself and has served some four decades with the company, all told – to keep Jacoby sharp. However, the Geely-devised system of "checks and balances" may be off the rails at this point, as the battle has become increasingly intense and is said to have held up some day-to-day decisions.

To make matters worse, Jacoby has been out of the picture for a bit after suffering a small stroke last month and taking medical leave.

Despite these insider reports of troubled times, Geely chairman Li Shufu (who also serves as chairman of Volvo) seems to believe that the arrangement is working as planned. It was Li that tasked Olsson with with closely watching Volvo management, as it tries desperately to turn around its lately flagging fortunes.

On the record, the company has stated that all is well in the house of Volvo. Spokesman Per-Åke Fröberg responded to the agllegations flatly, "There is no conflict between Stefan Jacoby and Hans-Olov Olsson."

Land Rover has reworked the option sheet for the 2013 Range Rover Evoque with a new base model and a lower entry price. Buyers on (more of) a budget can slide into the Evoque Pure, which lands at $41,995 and is only available in five-door configuration. That's a reduction of around $2,000 compared to the 2012 model (pictured).

The lower MSRP comes with an aluminum roof instead of the gorgeous panoramic laminated glass panel of higher trims, though it can be painted in a contrasting color. Even so, buyers can still look forward to a cabin swaddled in leather and synthetic suede. All trims now have the option of a Park Assist feature and designers have reworked the old grille to include a new black-field Land Rover logo (not shown).

Land Rover has also taken some time to update the Evoque's navigation system. Off Road Navigation is now standard on every model equipped with nav, and features handy info like topographic lines, latitude, longitude, elevation and waypoint functionality. All handy in the rare event your Evoque abandons the beaten path. Check out the full press blast below for more information.