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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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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2017 Audi A4 Arrive in US Dealerships

German's rival to the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class will arrive in US dealerships this Spring with a single engine option, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four gasoline mill rated for 252hp and 273 lb-ft of peak torque paired to a standard 7-speed dual-clutch transmission for both the front-wheel drive and quattro all-wheel drive versions.

Prices start from $37,300 for the FWD Premium trim, not including a $950 destination charge, which compares to $35,900 for the outgoing A4, though Audi says it comes with an expanded list of standard kit that includes keyless start/stop, rearview camera, Audi smartphone interface, LED interior lighting, digital 3-zone automatic climate control and Audi pre sense city. The most expensive model in the launch range is the Prestige with quattro at $48,900.

Later on, Audi will enhance the A4’s lineup with an entry-level 2.0L gasoline and a frugal 2.0L diesel engine, as well as the performance S4 model fitted with a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 pumping out 349hp (354PS) and 368 lb-ft of peak torque for a 0-62mph (100km/h) time of 4.7 seconds. It will compete against the BMW 340i and the Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG.

While there are no plans to introduce the regular Avant (station wagon) model in the States, Audi will offer the taller-riding A4 Allroad, while company officials are also discussing the possibility of bringing the next generation of the high-performance RS4 to North America.

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2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell Vehicle

The North American version in LAthat makes its debut at the LA Auto Show is all but identical to its Japanese counterpart and it has an aerodynamic body with clean character lines, LED exterior lighting and 18-inch alloy wheels. Customers can choose between three colors, namely red, white and black. Standard equipment includes Honda's comprehensive array of driver assist systems. The cabin can seat five in its leather-wrapped seats and the infotainment system comes with a large touchscreen and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support.

Compared to the original FCX, the Clarity features a fuel cell stack that's 33 percent more compact and its power density is up by 60 percent. The fuel cell powertrain is comparable to a 3.5-liter V6 in size and it fits entirely under the hood, making room for a spacious cabin.

The automaker didn't release any output figures on the Clarity FCV, but from previous releases we know that the fuel cell stack has a total capacity of 100kW and the electric motor generates 174hp (177 PS). Filling its tank with hydrogen takes approximately three minutes and the total driving range is estimated to exceed 300 miles (483 km).

Honda will use the platform underpinning the Clarity Fuel Cell as the foundation for the next PHEV, which will launch in the United States by 2018. This will get the two-motor hybrid plug-in system with improvements in battery capacity and power, offering "more than triple the 13-mile all-electric range of the Accord Sedan".

The hydrogen-powered model will be available at select fuel cell dealers in California, at first in Los Angeles and Orange County and then San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento. As hydrogen fueling networks expand, Honda will introduce it to other states, too.

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New 2016 Honda Civic Coupe

The announcement that the Civic Coupe would be revealed in LA was made no more than a week ago, which meant that it was only a matter of time before we got to see the production version of that surprisingly sporty Civic Coupe Concept shown in New York earlier this year.

Before we get into any specifics, let's talk about what we see and don't see. For starters, the car isn't as aggressive as the NY concept, that much is obvious. Gone are the tiny mirrors, the body kit, the blacked out grille (though there's still room for these things to make their way onto sportier versions), as is the massive rear wing and the central exhaust tip.

Now, what Honda does want us to know is that the 2016 Civic Coupe will be launched officially in March 2016, boasting a sporty new chassis, a more spacious and quieter cabin and according to the Japanese manufacturer, even class-leading crash safety ratings.

Just like its sedan sibling, the 2016 Civic Coupe will feature two engines, one of which is the first-ever turbocharged engine of the Coupe, with more power, better performance as well as fuel efficiency. Lower spec models will be powered by a 2.0-liter DOHC i-VTEC engine, good for 158 HP and 138 lb-ft (187 Nm) of torque with anticipated fuel-economy ratings of 31/41/35 mpg (city/highway/combined), or 7.5/5.7/6.7 liters/100 km.

This engine will also be paired with a 6-speed manual transmission on these lower spec cars. Mid and high spec models are powered by a new 1.5-liter DOHC direct-injected turbocharged engine (a first for the Civic Coupe), good for 174 HP and 162 lb-ft (219 Nm) of torque. Anticipated EPA ratings sit at 31/42/35 mpg, basically identical to 2.0-liter i-VTEC unit.

In terms of styling, Honda made sure to produce significant upgrades for the new Civic Coupe, where the exterior does share a lot of the concept's sporty and premium character thanks to the bold front fascia, fastback profile and the aggressive detailing.

Inside, the overall room has grown by 8.4 cubic feet (237 liters) while the rear seat legroom is increased by more than 5 inches (12.7 cm), compared to the outgoing Coupe model. Throughout the cabin, you'll notice a soft-touch instrument panel with molded stitching, more premium seat fabrics and a new TFT center meter.

All new Civic Coupes, starting with the LX version and moving to the top of the line Touring model, feature upgraded interiors with solid standard equipment levels that include auto on/off headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, acoustic glass windshield, automatic climate control (dual-zone in upper trims), Electric Parking Brake with Brake Hold and Walk-Away auto door locks.

New features such as the LED headlights, remote engine start, heated front seats and side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, full-color TFT center meter and seven-inch Display Audio touchscreen are also available.

As for audio and connectivity features, the new Civic Coupe comes with a new Android OS-based 7" Display Audio touch screen interface, and a whole bunch of streaming audio options such as Pandora, SiriusXM and HD Radio. Versions with Display Audio are also compatible with both Android Auto as well as Apple CarPlay platforms, while the highest spec models will feature Honda's new Satellite-Linked navigation system, developed together with Garmin.

Since Honda is also bragging about the 2016 Civic Coupe's safety characteristics, it's important to note that the car has a next-gen Advanced Compatibility Body Structure and the available new Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety tech. Thanks to these features, Honda is targeting the highest available US safety rating from the NHTSA and a top safety pick rating from the IIHS.

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New BMW 330e Plug-In Hybrid

An MPV like the 2-Series Active Tourer would previously been unthinkable – front-wheel drive, a heresy, a betrayal against the brand's core values. The powers that be in BMW, of course, know very well that the 3-Series is their bread-and-butter model and their best-seller, so they make sure they don't meddle much with its successful recipe.

Nevertheless, electrification has become inevitable in order to meet the stringent norms concerning fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. This does not necessarily imply that driving pleasure has been compromised. According to BMW, the new 330e "adds to the 3-Series model range a plug-in hybrid variant that meets the highest standards of dynamics and efficiency".

The engineers might have used the know-how gained by the i-Series, but unlike the i3 and i8, as well as the 225xe Active Tourer that will also debut at the IAA, the 65kW/88 PS electric motor that's positioned in front of the eight-speed auto gearbox is mated not to the 1.5-liter three-cylinder, but the 184 PS, 2.0-liter four-cylinder.

Thus, the 330e has a total combined output of 252 PS and a peak torque of 420 Nm (310 lb-feat), with 100 Nm (74 lb-ft) – and, for small bursts, up to 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) - being available at all times by the eDrive system.

This enables the 330e to accelerate to 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standstill in just 6.1 seconds and top out at 225 km/h (140 mph). Not bad for a premium compact saloon, especially when you factor in the 1.9-2.1 lt/100 km (148.7-134.5 mpg) average fuel consumption and its CO2 emissions that are just 44-49 g/km.

BMW claims that, in all-electric mode, the hybrid 3-Series has a range of 40 km (25 miles) at speeds up to 120 km/h (75 mph) before the petrol engine kicks in and the total range in everyday driving can reach 600 km (373 miles).

The 7.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack is situated under the boot, reducing its 480 lt capacity by 90 lt, though the company says that it has managed to keep the 50/50 weight balance and, anyway, the 370 lt that's available is still more than enough – plus, one can always fold the 40/20/40 split rear seat.

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Citroen DS 4 and DS 4 Crossback Facelift

The makeover consists of a new front end which sports the "DS Wings" grille design as well as new DS LED Vision headlights. Besides these, the new DS 4 Crossback adds a 30mm higher ride height and black alloy wheels, black wheel arch and bumper trims as well as grey roof bars for a more rugged appearance. Inside, the DS 4 and DS 4 Crossback feature door panels upholstered in Nappa leather and semi-aniline leather upholstery with the brand’s signature "watch strap" design.

Another update for the DS 4 is the introduction of a two-tone paint option with a choice of four colors for the roof and rear spoiler, the door mirrors and hub caps. The optional Perla Nera Black, Whisper Purple, Virtual Blue or Tourmaline Orange finish on the roof mean that up to 38 color combinations are possible. There are nine body colors available, including three new hues: Tourmaline Orange, Artense Grey and Platinum Grey.

The facelifted DS 4 will be the first DS vehicle in the PSA Group to offer CarPlay compatibility with the most recent Apple iPhones. The function will be accessed via a new 7-inch color touch screen which controls all vehicle functions, from navigation to music. In addition, thanks to the new touch screen the center console requires 12 fewer buttons. Other available features include a reversing camera, keyless entry and start, as well as blind spot monitoring.

The engine lineup for the refreshed DS 4 includes six engines (three petrol and three diesel units) with outputs ranging from 120PS to 210PS. The most powerful engine is a new THP 210 S&S 6-speed manual fitted for the first time to a DS vehicle. The engine delivers 210PS (208hp) at 6,000rpm and 285Nm (210lb-ft) of torque from 1,750rpm to 4,000rpm. The DS 4 Crossback will launch with two engines – a 130PS petrol unit and a 120PS diesel.

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