Mazda is considering another crossover that will slot in beneath the CX-7, according to U.K.’s Auto Express. The new compact crossover, likely to be called the CX-5, will be inspired by the Hakaze that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show.

Featuring a distinctive grille and sporty profile inspired by Hakaze, the CX-5 will include RX-8 like rear suicide doors to improve access to the back seats. The CX-5 could also feature the removable roof panels that were seen on the Hakaze concept.

The CX-5 has not yet been approved for production, but Mazda’s U.K. execs would like to see a compact crossover on the road by the end of the decade.

## Source: Auto Express ##

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Canadian supplier Magna International and an unnamed private equity group have placed a bid for the Chrysler Group, according to KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst Brett Hoselton. The bid for Chrysler is worth approximately $4.7 billion. Given most analysts stating that Chrysler is worth anywhere from nothing to around $13 billion, the offer may not be as low as it sounds.

DaimlerChrysler could also consider offering Magna a minority stake in Chrysler, if other bidders “retreat.” DaimlerChrysler expects that Magna’s bid will not be the last before its annual shareholder meeting on April 4th.

## Source: Reuters ##

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Following the unveiling of its M3 Concept at the Geneva Motor Show, BMW has revealed details of the M3’s new V8 powerplant. The first eight-cylinder for the BMW M3 will deliver 420-hp from just 4.0L.

Not only is the new V8 more powerful than the outgoing inline 6 cylinder, it is also lighter than the previous engine.

Full details after the jump.

## Source: BMW ##

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Ford will unveil the production version of its Fairlane people mover concept (shown) at the New York Auto Show. The production model will be called the Flex, when it makes its debut on April 4th. The Flex is designed to help replace Ford’s minivans that were discontinued last year.

The Flex joins Ford’s other crossovers, which includes the seven seat Taurus X and five seat Edge. The Flex features three-row seating and conventional five-door layout. The Flex is expected to sport similarly boxy styling as the Fairlane and will likely feature a chrome three-bar grille and a prominent Blue Oval badge.

Ford is targeting to sell about 100,000 Flexes annually.

Ford will also build a Lincoln version of the Flex people mover, but the curvy styling of the Lincoln model will look little like the boxy Flex.

## Source: The Detroit News ##

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Bob Lutz, General Motors product guru, has confirmed plans for a new Cadillac V12-powered flagship sedan. The new sedan is expected to be inspired by the popular Cadillac Sixteen coupe car, and will compete with the Mercedes S-Class and Lexus LS.

Lutz said in an interview that GM’s Holden division is working on the new V12 for the new flagship. The new V12 is built from two 3.6L V6 engines mated to a common crankshaft. The 7.2L V12 will feature direct-injection, and deliver around 600-hp.

Early test mules for the flagship Cadillac are reportedly riding on the new rear-wheel-drive Zeta platform. The Zeta platform may underpin more than the test mules, with the production model also derived from the Zeta.

## Source: Automotive News ##

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Honda has said that it will recall about 165,000 2005-06 model year vehicles in the United States to fix a potential engine problem. The vehicles being recalled include 2005 models of the Acura RL, TL and TSX sedans, 2005 Honda Accord coupes, sedans and hybrids, 2005 Odyssey minivans and 2006 Ridgeline trucks.

The U.S. receal is part of a global recall due to an defect thatcan cause sealer material to leak onto a coil wire inside the fuel pump relay. The wire can become brittle and snap, and could led to stalls or a failure to start.

Honda has received “multiple complaints,” but there have been no injuries or crashes linked to the defect.

## Source: Detroit News ##

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BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer has confirmed that the automaker is still considering a small crossover that would be positioned below the X3. Tentatively called the X1, the new crossover would ride on the 1-Series platform. According to an interview in German magazine AutoZeitung, Reithofer said the vehicle is expected by 2010, and it expects to sell about 100,000 units annually.

Reithofer also said that “the type of products we need in the future” are cars like successors to Z8 roadster and M1 supercar.

## Source: AutoZeitung ##

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Volkswagen announced that its new special edition Wolfsburg Edition Passat is now available at dealers nationwide. Volkswagen will build approximately 6,000 of the special edition Passats.

The Wolfsburg Edition Passat is powered by a 2.0L 200-hp turbocharged engine mated a six-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission. Each special edition Passat sedan includes unique “Wolfsburg Edition” badging on the driver and passenger front quarter panels. The Wolfsburg Edition Passat features 17-inch alloy wheels, a four-spoke leather wrapped multi-function steering wheel, leather wrapped gearshift knob and boot, 12-way full power adjustable driver seat, six-disc in-dash CD changer with MP3 capability, heated front seats, power sunroof, fog lights, heated windshield washer nozzles, Sirius satellite radio and unique “Wolfsburg Edition” badging.

Following VW’s value pricing tradition on special edition vehicles, the Wolfsburg Edition Passat is a greater value at $26,990 than a similarly equipped non-Wolfsburg Edition Passat.

Full press release after the jump.

## Source: Volkswagen ##

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As we have previously reported, BMW will expand its 1-Series with coupe and convertible versions. Spy photographers have snapped the best shots yet of the coupe variant of the BMW 1-Series during testing in Munich.

There are rumors of a version powered by BMW’s new 3.0L twin-turbo, and possibly an M version as well.

The BMW 1-Series Coupe will join the 3- and 5-door hatch models and is scheduled to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this fall.

## Source: World Car Fans ##

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Over the last month, Saab has taken prototypes of its facelifted 9-3 out for cold weather testing, and we’ve shown spy shots of both wagon and convertible models. Spy photographers have once again caught a prototype of the facelifted 9-3 Convertible during testing.

Featuring the same Aero X-inspired front end as the wagon, this 9-3 is wearing slightly less camouflage, giving us a better look at the restyled front end. Earlier prototypes did not have decor strips on the bodysides, which we expected meant that they were begin dropped for a cleaner look, however they have returned on this prototype.

The facelifted Saab 9-3 may debut as part of Saab’s 60th anniversary celebrations in June.

## Source: World Car Fans ##

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Last month, we saw the first spy shots of Ford’s all-new lifestyle crossover, which is inspired by the Iosis X concept. Spy photographers have again caught the crossover during cold weather testing, and have even put together an illustration of what the crossover could look like.

Inspired by the Iosis X, which debuted at the last fall’s Paris Motor Show, the production crossover will feature Ford of Europe’s “kinetic design” language also seen on the Mondeo, and S-MAX and Galaxy MPVs. The new lifestyle crossover will be based on the Euro Focus C1 platform

Ford’s new crossover is scheduled to debut at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, and will enter a growing yet crowded market, including vehicles like the BMW X3, Opel Antara, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Qashqai, and other new entries like the Audi Q5, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Mercedes GLK.

## Source: World Car Fans ##

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General Motors has announced the 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid will have a starting base price of $22,695, including destination, which just makes it the lowest-priced hybrid on the market for 2007, undercutting the Toyota Prius by $100 and the Honda Civic Hybrid by $500. The IRS has certified that Aura Green Line buyers will qualify for a tax credit of $1,300, which makes the difference even larger as the tax credit for the Prius will drop to $787. While the Aura Green Line is less-expensive than the other hybrids, it is a “mild” hybrid and can not be driven on electric power alone.

“The Aura Green Line is a great value among the hybrids in the mid-size car segment,” said Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak.

The Aura Green Line’s hybrid system in the Aura mates 2.4L four-cylinder to an electric motor/generator, which captures electrical energy during regenerative braking. The hybrid system in the Green Line improves fuel economy by providing electric assist during acceleration, by cutting fuel during deceleration, and by shutting the engine off at idle.

The Aura Green Line EPA fuel economy rating of 28 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway represents up to a 30 percent improvement in EPA combined fuel economy compared to the non-hybrid Aura XE.

The 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line is arriving in dealerships now.

Full press release after the jump.

## Source: General Motors ##

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Last week, Hyundai announced it would add a second engine plant at its assembly facility in Montgomery, Alabama, but there was no announcement what the engine plant would produce. With the current engine plant in Montgomery building Hyundai’s V6 used in the Sonata and Santa Fe, we figured the plant would produce four-cylinder engines. Sixty to 70 percent of the Sonata sedans being built in Alabama are powered by four-cylinder engines that have been imported from Korea.

The new engine plant will build the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA) 2.4L four-cylinder engine, which will be used in the Sonata and for use at Kia’s new assembly plant in Georgia. The GEMA is an alliance of DaimlerChrysler, Mitsubishi and Hyundai, with the engines being used in various vehicles from each automaker, including the Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Dodge Caliber and Avenger, and the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer.

The plant will be able to build 300,000 engines annually — 200,000 a year in the first phase and another 100,000 annually at full production — and will employ 522 workers. Production is scheduled to begin in September 2008.

## Source: Automotive News ##

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We’ve seen several shots of BMW’s mystery roadster that has sparked much debate among auto spies as to this car’s identity. While many thought this was BMW’s SL-challenging Z9 (or Z6) roadster, there are others that think this is the next-generation Z4. The next Z4 is expected to grow to make room for a 1-Series-based Z2 entry-level roadster.

Based on the last set of photos, many changed their minds and got behind the idea that this is the next-generation Z4. While doubts are likely to remain for some time, as we don’t expect to see the camouflage stripped off the car for a while yet, we are jumping on the Z4 bandwagon — but we reserve the right to change our minds at any time.

Whatever it is, we have another set of photos of what we are saying is the Z4 roadster with its top down.

## Source: World Car Fans ##

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Kia is preparing a new concept that the automaker will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this year. According to Auto Express, the new concept will go head-to-head with the Audi TT. The car’s designer is none other than Kia’s new European design head, Peter Schreyer, who was responsible for the original TT (Schreyer’s ex_cee’d cabrio concept shown). The new concept is being worked on under the codename Project Snowflake — a play on the TT’s Raindrop codename.

“The name shows the link between the cars, but hints that ours will be even cooler,” a Kia insider revealed. “It will shock the world when it’s unveiled this autumn.”

The front-wheel drive concept will be powered by a new, turbocharged 2.0L, which is being developed with Hyundai and will be seen in a new hot-hatch model of the Cee’d. If production plans move forward, the concept could be seen in dealer showrooms as soon as 2009.

## Source: Auto Express ##

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