People that were there for the past Detroit Auto Show were treated to a rare breed. It was the Volkswagen BlueSport concept (See image above). This beauty had everyone talking and excited about when a production version would be made, but Volkswagen could not confirm that, or even if it would ever make an appearance. However, it looks as if this sporty little roadster just might come into being after all, although that hasn’t been officially confirmed.

What we do know is that the automaker’s design chief, Walter de Silva, said. He commented, “I’m not the only one in our company who is convinced that a small roadster wouldn’t be the worst thing for Volkswagen. This is a vehicle that we particularly like, and we always have in mind.”

The Volkswagen BlueSport concept was the brain child of Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche with each brand taking their own variant of the two seater coupe. Knowing that these major players were all in on the action makes the Volkswagen version even more appealing. If it does come out it will be going head to head with the Mazda MX-5.

A 2.0 liter turbodiesel engine is hosted in the Volkswagen BlueSport concept, but the production version could end up hosting a variety of gasoline TSI engines. For the concept model, the turbodiesel gives 258 pound feet of torque and 177 horsepower that gives the roadster a fun, if not all out aggressive feel. It will take you from 0 to 62 in about 6.6 seconds, so that’s not too bad either. When you add the ability to cruise at speeds of around 140 miles per hour, it heats it up even more. Best yet, it will get 54.7 miles per gallon.

Only time will tell whether the Volkswagen Roadster comes out as a production vehicle, so keep your fingers crossed.

Source Volkswagen

BMW and Mercedes-Benz should be getting nervous as Cadillac is currently firmly reclaiming its crown as America’s favorite luxury model. The Cadillac CTS Coupe is currently the best selling luxury coupe in the industry and while General Motors is staying mum on their plans about a new coupe and wagon, but it just seems as if that would be the next best move for Caddy to make.

Jim Vurpillat, Cadillac global marketing director, told Edmunds, “We will see where we go (the current CTS coupe) was the No. 1 selling luxury coupe in the industry. It is a good segment for us.”

The 2014 Cadillac CTS will be hitting the market this fall and the forecast is looking good for sales of this new model. This was specifically built to go after the midsize luxury fans, especially to lure the BMW and Mercedes-Benz drivers back to an American brand.

Dave Leone, Cadillac’s chief engineer, described the 2014 CTS as “a driver’s car.”  He also commented, “the CTS is going to deliver the most agile driving dynamics in its segment. The reason is that it is significantly lighter than anybody else out there. The CTS in four-cylinder, turbo powertrain configuration is a 3,600-pound car. It is 200 pounds lighter than the BMW 5 Series with a 2.0 turbo. Plus it has another 32 horsepower.”

The 2014 Cadillac CTS has the same platform as the new Chevy Camaro that is due to hit the streets in about two years. The larger Caddy coming out, the XTS has the same platform as the Buick LaCrosse and 2014 Chevy Impala. As for the Big Daddy XTS, Leone said, “the XTS is very isolated, a very quiet car. It is very comfortable and it has very good driving dynamics for a front-drive sedan, (but) it was never intended to be track capable” like the CTS. “The XTS is good, it is competent, but it is still a front-drive car.”

Source Edmunds

The Ford Atlas has an all steel construction for the time being and seems to be one of the claims to fame for this “Ford Tough” heavy hauler. However, everywhere you turn you hear mention of how the 2015 Ford F-150 could be gearing up to make the switch to aluminum. That would certainly lighten the load significantly, but do F-150 drivers really want the lightened load when it comes to hauling their heavy loads? This is such a hot topic that even other automakers want to make sure to put their two cents in. Case in point, Elon Musk of Tesla Motors and you have to admit, when it comes to new car technology, he is probably one of the most important people to listen to when it comes to unconfirmed rumors.

Tesla said, “From what I’ve heard, they’re using 7000-series aluminum, which is the right step. It’s very strong and light—it’s the same alloy we use to build rockets. There are many different alloys you can use, and a lot of manufacturers use 5000-series aluminum, but 7000 is twice as strong.  It can’t be traditionally welded; it must be bonded or mechanically joined or friction welded.”

However, all that retooling that would be needed to switch from the Ford Tough Steel to Ford Tough Aluminum would require a massive investment. We’ll have to wait and see if Ford decides to make the investment.

In the meantime, Elon Musk was also questioned about other vehicles that are currently leading the way with utilizing aluminum in order to lose the weight in their go-mobiles and the Audi A8 flagship sedan was brought up. For impressive as this sedan is being hinted to be, Musk didn’t seem excited. He said, “You know, we’ve examined what they’ve done, and some of it didn’t make a lot of sense the way the parts fit together and the types of alloys used. He then took the conversation back to Ford, “I’m very curious about how Ford is going about [the new F-150]. Honestly, we may have something to learn. Our chassis is a bit heavy; it could stand to lose a little weight.”

Source Motor Trend

The Toyota Prius is all ready the top selling car worldwide. But that doesn’t mean Toyota has intentions of resting on pushing through to top even themselves. The current behind scenes talk is about how the automaker is on the drawing board creating a Hybrid, that according to one Toyota engineer is going to “redefine the hybrid as we know it.” That sounds like something any automaker could brag about. It’s having the facts to back it up that counts and Toyota seems to have a firm grasp on that.

Apparently we can look forward to a brand new Toyota Prius that will be constructed on a newly designed C platform that loses about 153 pounds over the current model. While that would be enough to knock down the fuel consumption, Toyota isn’t stopping there. They are also modifying the current 1.8 liter engine along with downsizing the electric motor and power inverter in order to offer even more power. This will also make it significantly more fuel efficient and the current goal is to be able to get around 75 miles per gallon. Now, that’s what we are hoping for.

You can’t forget about the plug in Toyota Prius though and that one is speculated to pretty much stay the same. By that, it means while both the hybrid and the electric version Prius models will have a motor added that will power the rear wheels in order to have e-4 wheel drive systems. This is to appeal to those in snowy parts of the world. One big difference in the two versions though is that the hybrid will keep its nickel metal battery, and the plug in will have a lithium ion battery. We aren’t sure how that will play out in power and performance differences between the two at this point.

Source Auto Express

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster first debuted in 2006 on the shirt tails of its Coupe sibling.  It is a convertible variant of the Vantage S series, but seems to be holding its own in the family tree with the recent updates made to the vehicle.

Like all of the Vantage models, the two-seat Roadster is built on the automaker’s VH architecture, using lightweight bonded aluminum framework.  But with the roof removed, there is a loss of rigidity, so Aston Martin added a few extra tweaks, including a cross member to the platform.  (That adds 200 pounds over the Coupe.)  The power-operated soft top includes a heated glass rear window, and can be opened and closed with the touch of a button in about 20 seconds.  It tucks nicely under a hard tonneau cover when stowed and can be activated at speeds at 30 mph and up.  There are also some other subtle styling changes made that were inspired by the Roadster’s upmarket siblings, the Vantage S and the V12 Vantage.

The first thing enthusiasts will notice is the larger lower intake that allows more air to get to the radiator and front brakes.  The rear diffuser and side sills also give a more aggressive look to the vehicle.  The interior is mostly unchanged from previous models, but does sport leather upholstery with contrasting stitching and piano black trim along the dash.  Those alone make some people forget about the ergonomic challenges of the cockpit.

With a 4.7L V8 engine offering power of 430 HP / 361 LB-FT using a 7-speed SCT transmission, the Vantage Roadster can hit 0-60 in 4.7 seconds.  (It’s a shame that most people will just put it in “D” and hit the streets to show off its styling.)  With an MRSP of around $155,991, this vehicle gets 13 mpg city and 19 mpg highway.  But the 2013 Aston Martin V8 Roadster shows all of the character of the Vantage family.

Every time there is a “white space” in the auto market, manufacturers get a bit edgy.  So they spend hours upon hours to design vehicles that fill that empty space in the market.  That’s how we end up with some vehicles that are rather short-lived, like Baja.  Others are questionable, like Chevrolet HHR Panel, the Nissan Murano and even the BMW 5 Series GT.  So you can imagine that taking a look at the Subaru 2013 XV Crosstek was done with caution.

The first look shows that the Crosstek borrows its looks from the Impreza five-door.  However, Subaru jumped it up a bit by increasing the ground clearance by 8.7 inches.  That beats out its rivals like the Jeep Compass, Ford Escape and the Masda CX5.  With the wheels pushed far to each corner, the Crosstek looks ready to go for jaunt through the woods.

While Subaru was not always known for their great interiors, the 2013 XV Crosstek offers a trim with leather seating that has some contrasting stitching and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.  Some faux-metal accents on the dash brighten the cabin up a bit.  However, the infotainment panel is lacking in convenience and design.

Here are some other stats on the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstek :

• Engine:  2.0L Boxer 4
• Transmission:  CVT
• Power:  148 HP/ 145 LB-FT
• Curb Weight:  3,164 lbs.
• Drivetrain:  All-Wheel Drive
• Cargo:  22.3 / 51.9 CU-FT
• Seating:  2+3
• MPG:  25 City / 33 Hwy

This vehicle is not for someone looking for speed in acceleration, but it seems to do well in endurance.  A 0-60 test will probably take about ten seconds.  And looks can be deceiving.  With the traditional Subaru four banger engine, this is not a mountain vehicle.  But, depending on your tastes in a CUV, it can be a great town and country vehicle.