MotorYP

2011 Porsche Boxster SpyderPorsche — a company known for creating light and highly efficient and desirable sports cars — took the wraps off one of its most nimble and sportiest mid-engine cars ever: the 2011 Boxster Spyder.

This new mid-engine Porsche represents the purist form of the roadster sports car, meaning it is agile, powerful, open and efficient. Weighing only 2,811 lbs. and delivering 320 horsepower, it goes on sale in February 2010 and will join the Boxster and Boxster S that made their world debut here last year. [...]

Green and performance luxury needn’t be mutually exclusive concepts. That’s a core belief at Audi. Today, that philosophy paid off with the all-new A3 TDI earning the prestigious title of 2010 Green Car of the Year®.

The announcement came this morning during the Los Angeles Auto Show as Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com presented the award to Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen. The Audi A3 TDI was among five model finalists nominated for the award, which began in 2005. [...]

The Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team from Chrysler Group LLC arrived at Laguna Seca raceway today on a mission – to recapture the production car lap record at the world-renowned road course in Monterey, Calif.

Mission accomplished.

Chris Winkler, an SRT vehicle dynamics engineer piloted a black and red 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR (American Club Racer) to a lap record of 1:33.915 as recorded by Motech in-vehicle data recorder (1:33.944 – as unofficially recorded by trackside clock) around the 2.238-mile, 11-turn course, shattering the previous lap record by more than 1.1 seconds. [...]

Nissan North America today announced pricing for the 2010 Nissan 370Z Coupe, which is on sale now at Nissan dealers nationwide. The 2010 Nissan 370Z Coupe is available in two well-equipped models: 370Z and 370Z Touring and in a special edition NISMO 370Z. Pricing remains under $30,000 again in 2010, with the starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price* (M.S.R.P.) of $29,990 USD for the 370Z Coupe with 6-speed manual transmission.

A limited edition 40th Anniversary Package with unique content and an exclusive exterior/interior color combination, celebrating 40 years of the iconic Z, will be available in spring 2010. The 370Z is also offered in a new Nissan 370Z Roadster with fully automatic cloth convertible top. [...]

Four 2010 Volkswagen models – the brand-leading Jetta sedan, the all-new Golf four-door, the stylish Passat sedan, and the nimble Tiguan – have each received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) TOP SAFETY PICK award for 2010: The highest rating possible from the non-profit research organization. The annual award recognizes those vehicles that perform best in protecting passengers in the Institute’s front, side, and rear crash test evaluations, and the newly required roof-strength test evaluations. The Institute only tests vehicles with electronic stability control (branded Electronic Stabilization Program® / ESP® on Volkswagen vehicles), and head protection airbags.

“TOP SAFETY PICKS are the vehicles on the top rung for safety,” said IIHS president, Adrian Lund. “These Volkswagen models are in an elite group that afford the best protection in the most common kinds of crashes, and have electronic stability control to keep drivers out of many crashes altogether.” [...]

Lexus today announced Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) for the 2010 LS 460 and LS 460 L premium luxury sedans, GS 350 and GS 460 mid-size luxury sport sedans, and GS 450h mid-size luxury sport hybrid sedan. The MSRPs do not include a delivery, processing and handling fee of $875. The GS and LS sedans will arrive at dealerships later this month.

For 2010, the 2010 LS 460 models receive a revised grille, bumper, and headlamps, taillamps, license plate surround and exhaust diffusers. In addition, new side mirrors feature integrated turn signals while the standard 18-inch wheels have a new 10-spoke design. The LS 460 and LS 460 L freshen their exterior color palette for 2010 with new shades: Peridot Mica, Satin Cashmere Metallic, Matador Red Mica and Deep Sea Mica. Inside the LS adds an Eco Drive indicator that can encourage economical driving. LS 460 L models also receive standard Intuitive Park Assist and Intelligent High-Beam. [...]

How did Hyundai improve Accent’s EPA fuel economy for 2010 without adding thousands of dollars to the price like a hybrid does? The answer is the introduction of the high mileage, low price “Blue” edition and smart engineering to all Accent models. Accent’s fuel efficiency is improved by up to nine percent, reaching as high as 36 miles per gallon on the highway which is better than Honda Fit and Nissan Versa. [...]