2017 Ford Fusion Sport Variant

Starting with that new variant, it is dubbed the Ford Fusion Sport and utilises a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. It manages to pump out a total of 325 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque and as Ford is happy to point out, is more powerful than the BMW 340i. Power is transmitted through all four wheels but at this stage, no performance times have been announced.

Beyond its powerful engine, the Ford Fusion Sport comes complete with continuously controlled damping and a pothole detection system which can adjust the shocks the instant the car hits a pot hole, to dramatically reduce the impact. Compared to other Fusion models, the Sport can be picked out due to its more menacing styling which includes enlarged air intakes, 19-inch wheels, a gloss black mesh grille, rear spoiler and quad exhaust pipes.

Elsewhere in the range is the Fusion Hybrid, Fusion Energi and Fusion Platinum, utilising the same powertrains as before. That means the Fusion Energy has a 7.6 kWh lithium-ion battery which offers a 19 mile range of all-electric power. It can then be used in conjunction with the 2.0-liter petrol engine for a range exceeding 500 miles. On the technology side of things, Ford has installed the facelifted Fusion with its SYNC 3 infotainment system that includes voice recognition, a touchscreen display, improved performance and an easier-to-understand graphical interface.

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VW Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40

The third generation EA888 engine now uses features like a water-cooled exhaust channel to the turbocharger and variable valve timing with dual camshaft adjustment. 0-62mph now comes in 6.3 seconds for both manual and DSG versions, with the top speed limited to 155mph. It's the 40th anniversary of the iconic Golf GTI and VW marks the occasion with the launch of the Clubsport Edition 40.

DSG-equipped models come with launch control as standard while VW says that the unladen weight figure is a fairly lightweight 1375kg. Other features include the electronic differential and the retuned suspension. But the most important new feature of the new Golf GTI Clubsport is the new aero suit it's wearing, offering for the first time real downforce on both axles. A completely new front bumper, side sills, rear diffuser and a roof spoiler are specially designed to push the new Clubsport firmer on the tarmac.

The cabin hosts a pair of optional bucket seats, finished in Alcantara and cloth while the dashboard and door cards are decorated with special "Honeycomb 40" trim strips. Customers will also get the option of a black-painted roof. The UK market will receive just 1,000 units of the new Golf GTI Clubsport which is available for order now, starting at £30,875 for the three-door manual model.

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2016 Volkswagen Touran

The first unit is a 1.8-liter TSI petrol, which is good for 180 PS (177 HP) and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque, available between 1,250 and 5,000 rpm, enough for a top speed of 218 km/h (135 mph). Power is sent to the wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox and for this specification, buyers will have to pay €34,250 ($39,000) in Highline trim.

Joining the engine lineup is a new 2-liter four-cylinder TDI diesel, which comes with 190 PS (187 HP), connected to a 6-speed DSG. Top speed in this version is 220 km/h (137 mph), while fuel consumption stands at 4.6 lt/100 km (51.1 mpg US), all for a starting price of €37,150 ($42,300), in the same Highline trim level.

Described as adding "a trace of Italian elegance", the Milano design package brings ambient lighting, roofliner in titanium black, piano black inlays for the center console, instrument panel and door panels, volcano-brown ArtVelours microfleece for the center seat panels, Nappa leather seat bolsters, leather-trimmed multi-function steering wheel and heated front seats. The package costs €1,675 ($1,900), for the Comfortline and Highline specifications.

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2017 Honda Ridgeline Pickup Truck

Set to debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the new pickup truck is wider and longer than the previous generation, measuring an additional 5.4 inches (13.7 centimeters) in width and 4 inches (10 cm) in length – sporting a four-foot wide flat bed, with a fully flat-floor which can withstand and a maximum payload capacity of 1,600 pounds (725 kilograms).

To top it off, the bed is apparently scratch-resistant and comes with a dual action tailgate, a 400-watt AC power inverter and an in-bed audio system that uses six exciters placed inside the bed wall in order to release sound coming from the truck's audio system for a total output of 540 watts.

The 2017 Honda Ridgeline will be powered exclusively by a 3.5-litre V6 mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox, which Honda says it will ensure best-in-class acceleration and fuel economy, and will be available in both front and all-wheel-drive configurations. The AWD system will incorporate Honda's Intelligent Terrain Management, providing several modes: Normal, Sand, Snow, and Mud.

As expected from a brand new model, it will be available with a plethora of safety equipment, including Collision Mitigation Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Road Departure Mitigation, Forward Collision Warning, and Lane Keeping Assist. Moreover, all of the models will get a multi-angle rearview camera as standard.

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2017 GMC Acadia Wheelbase

Arguably the most important development for the new GMC Acadia are it use of high-strength and lightweight steels throughout its construction. All told, the car weighs a considerable 700 pounds less than the outgoing model. That significant weight saving doesn't just help at the fuel pump, but also improves performance and makes the car more agile. Compared to the 2016 Acadia, its successor is smaller in all areas being 7.2-inches shorter, 3.5-inches narrower and 3.9-inches lower. The wheelbase itself has also been decreased in size by 6.4-inches.

Due to the vehicle's reduced size, it is no longer available with eight seats. Instead, the three-row design allows for five, six and seven-seat configurations. Despite being smaller than the 2016 model, the new car actually has more cargo capacity, 79 cubic feet versus 70 cubic feet.

In terms of engines, the entry-level model utilises a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing an undisclosed amount of power. We do know that it returns 22 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, comes standard with a stop-start feature and is mated as standard with a front-wheel drive system. 2017 GMC Acadia customers also have the option of a 3.6-liter V6 pumping out 310, 19 hp more than the current model. Despite the additional power, towing capacity actually drops from 5,200 pounds to 4,000 pounds.

While both these engine options are offered solely with a six-speed automatic, all-wheel drive is offered both in standard and All Terrain guise. Each drivetrain has its own distinct drive modes. For example, front-wheel drive models include a Snow mode, the standard AWD model has 4x4 and Off Road modes while the All Terrain model appropriately receives an All Terrain mode, particularly helping with climbing steep hills.

Other key developments for the 2017 GMC Acadia include the addition of front pedestrian braking, a following distance indicator, Surround Vision camera system, forward collision alert, lane keep assist and front and rear parking sensors. Inside, customers receive the company's latest IntelliLink system offering support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An OnStar 4G LTE WiFi hotspot is also offered.

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Ford Focus RS Line Models

During discussions with Auto Express just before the Detroit Auto Show, Ford's executive vice president of global marketing, sales and service, Steve Odell, revealed that there is room to expand the RS brand. "The RS brand is really valuable. People race it. People collect it. I believe there is room to expand", he said. Odell remains tight-lipped about what the next RS-badged model from Ford could be. According to reports however, it seems highly likely that it will be a hardcore, performance-focused variant of the Fiesta.

Speculation as recent as late December claims that the Fiesta RS will arrive sometime in 2017 and be powered the same 1.6-liter turbocharged engine as the Fiesta ST. While the ST has 197 hp on tap that's arguably more than enough for a hatchback of the Fiesta's size, that figure could jump to 246 hp for the RS. Unlike the latest Focus RS which requires all-wheel drive, the entry-level RS model will retain front-wheel drive. No need to worry, though: Ford has proven time and again it can tune the chassis and suspension to make powerful FWD cars handle with aplomb.

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2019 Audi A2 City Car Concept

The Audi A2 city car will be offered with a 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine and an all-electric powertrain with a lithium-ion battery pack and electric motor similar to those used in the VW e-Up. Intriguingly, the automaker is said to have ruled out a diesel engine due its higher development costs.

This is the third time Audi attempts to enter this segment. In 1999, the original Audi A2 was introduced but soon scrapped after failing to pull buyers away from the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. In 2011, an electric A2 concept was unveiled and pinned to reach the production line, but in 2013 the project was axed.

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1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible

The impressive-looking example is one of just 116 units produced in 1969, when it was custom-ordered by the son of a wealthy Kentucky-based tobacco family, who decided in the end not to take delivery for personal reasons. The vehicle ended up in Tennessee and this is when Bryan Cooper, the promoter of Knoxville Corvette Expo, who offered it to Corvette authority Paul Kitchen, bought the car in 1977. The two men dropped the gas tank and discovered the sticker for verification, which remained with Kitchen when he sold the car, but it was reunited with the model in November 1987.

The classic Corvette was placed in storage for almost 25 years, until February 2012, when it was delivered to Roger Gibson, a renowned restoration expert, who spent 5,100 hours restoring it, in a 19-month period. This is when the drop-top received the correct fresh LeMans Blue paint and the matching Bright Blue interior, along with the black vinyl auxiliary hardtop. Original components were preserved during the process and these include the open-chamber head L88engine, producing 430HP and connected to the aluminum-case 4-speed transmission.

The 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible will be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson's 45th Scottsdale event, which will be held between January 23 and 31, 2016. Besides the vehicle, the new owner will also receive several signed documents, noting its past history, receipts and two three-ring binders detailing the work made by Gibson, NCRS shipping report, NCRS validation service, "Prove It" report and, of course, the original Tank Sticker.

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1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing

Manufactured in July 1955, it had an in an Ivory (DB 608) painted bodywork with a Red leather (1079) interior. It's recorded in the Gull Wing Group and Eric LeMoine 300 SL Registers and, unlike the majority of US-delivery Gullwings, which were imported through Max Hoffman in New York City, this one was sent west for a special order through the brand's LA distributor.

One of its long-term owners was Ottmar Thomas of Visalia, from California, who had the car in his possession between 1972 and 1990, when it was bought by Paul Russell & Company. Before being sold to its present owner, racing driver and Mercedes-Benz restorer Lothar Motsenbacher, it was repainted in the Silver (DB 180) color, which it retains and comes with the usual chips and cracking expected from age. The engine bay in which the 3.0-liter inline-six sits is described as having "the correct patina" and the bumper and chrome grille were re-plated, while the rest of the chrome is original.

"Aged" is a word that can used to describe the cabin, too, as the Roser leather on the seats shows the usual wear but "is not cracked or split", at least according to the seller. In the boot, this classic Merc sports the correct full-sized spare and tire along with a jack. This 300 SL Gullwing will go under the hammer at RM Sotheby's Arizona auction on January 28 and is expected to sell for anywhere between $1,1 million to $1,5 million.

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