First Official Photos of 2013 Acura ILX Sedan and RDX Crossover

We don't have to wait until Wednesday for the 2012 Chicago Auto Show to open its doors to the press to see what the production versions of Acura's 2013 ILX compact sedan and RDX crossover look like as the Japanese carmaker has just released the first official photos.

As we expected, the transition from concept to production didn't bring many changes on either model, just some minor tweaks to the bumper trims and the placing of smaller and less extravagant alloy wheels.

Starting with the ILX, while based on the current Civic, Acura has made considerable efforts to differentiate the compact model from its Honda sibling, both inside and out. Acura says that the primary target customers for the ILX are "Generation Y- successful 20 and 30-somethings moving into the luxury car ranks but looking for high-value propositions in their purchases."

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Nissan Unveils Subtly Facelifted 370Z Ahead of the Chicago Auto Show [27 Photos + Video]

Less than 24 hours before the grand opening of the 2012 edition of the Chicago Auto Show and Nissan has lifted the covers off its mildly updated 370Z sports car that goes on sale in the U.S. next June as a 2013 model.

The changes on all configurations of the 370Z including the Coupe, Roadster and the NISMO edition are extremely subtle.

Starting with the Coupe and Roadster, on the outside, you'll probably notice the revised front bumper that gains vertical LED daytime running lights in a similar position that the older 350Z featured reflectors.

Nissan's designers also added a red reflector to the rear fascia that replaces the previous black center cover. The regular coupe now rides on newly designed 18-inch wheels while the Sport Package equipped models gain revised 19-inch alloys, red-finish brake calipers, and what Nissan describes as "Euro-tuned" shock absorbers.

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New 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG with up to 550HP Priced from $95,865

The all-new 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG will arrive in U.S. showrooms this March with a starting price of $95,865, which includes an $875 destination charge.

The base model features a 5.5-liter bi-turbocharged V8 engine rated at 518HP and 516 lb-ft. Even though these numbers represent an increase of 15HP and 44 lb-ft over its predecessor, the new ML63 AMG's combined fuel economy of 16 mpg is 33 percent lower.

If you need more power, Mercedes offers an optional AMG Performance Package that boosts output to 550HP and maximum torque to 560 lb-ft.

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Limited Run Audi R8 GT Spyder Priced at $210,000*, Only 50 Coming to the States

The most exclusive and powerful version of the Audi R8 Spyder has arrived in the States. All in all, the Ingolstadt-based automaker will hand-build 333 examples of the R8 GT Spyder, 50 of which are destined for the U.S., each carrying an MSRP of $210,000 (€163,300), not including a $1,200 destination and delivery fee or local taxes.

What you get for the price of a family house in some states such as Ohio, is a lighter and more powerful version of the R8 V10 Spyder.

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New BMW ActiveHybrid 5 Priced from $61,845, Nearly $10k more than the 535i [130 Photos]

If you want a little more power (but slightly worse performance) and a little better fuel economy and don't mind paying US$9,345 over the price of a regular 535i, then you may want to take a look at BMW's new ActiveHybrid 5 sedan.

If you live in Europe or in any other region where BMW offers diesel variants of the 5-Series, then you're probably better off with one of those models – we'll explain why later on.

BMW today announced that the ActiveHybrid 5 will go on sale in the States in March with a base MSRP of $61,845 (€47,800), which includes an $895 destination and handling fee.

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Meet the Booth Models of the 2012 Qatar Motor Show

While there's nothing new to report from the automotive front at the 2012 edition of the ongoing Qatar Motor Show, which ends on January 28, we do have a fresh assortment of photos of the other kind of models we usually find at all auto shows.

If the opening photo piqued your interest, head on past the break for our high-res gallery and hope you enjoy our selection.

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Chevy Drops New Photo Gallery of Camaro ZL1 Coupe and Convertible Models

General Motors has decided to share with us a fresh batch of photos of the next chapter in the Chevrolet Camaro's ongoing 21st century rebirth, the ZL1 series, which will soon launch in both Coupe and Convertible flavors.

The Camaro ZL1 Coupe was first introduced to the public nearly a year ago at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show, and it will arrive in U.S. dealerships this spring as a 2012 model with a starting price of $54,995 (€43,000).

It’s Convertible brethren will join in later in the summer as a 2013 model with pricing to be announced closer to the launch date, though if Chevrolet keeps the same pricing policy as the regular open-top versions, buyers should expect a $5,000 to $6,000 premium over the coupe model.

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Renault Launches Refreshed 2012 Scenic and Grand Scenic MPVs in Europe [47 Photos]

Renault has dropped a slew of photos of its updated five-seater Scenic and 7-seater Grand Scenic minivans as the company prepares to launch the range across Europe.

Named the Scenic and Grand Scenic Collection 2012, the regular and long-wheelbase versions of Europe's best-selling compact MPV enter the new model year with revised front-end looks and upgraded cabin trim and upholstery finishes while the French carmaker also added two new engines to the range.

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Volkswagen Drops New Photos and Videos of its Facelifted CC

On the occasion of the European press launch of the facelifted CC in Southern France this week, Volkswagen released a fresh batch of pictures and videos of its mid-size model.

The CC, which made its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November, will first go on sale in Germany and Luxembourg in the beginning of February, followed by the rest of Europe at the end of the same month, and then globally, including America, Russia and Asia in spring 2012.

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Ssangyong Introduces New Korando Sports in South Korea

The South Korean maker known for building some of the ugliest production cars in recent times, Ssangyong, has launched the production version of the SUT 1 Concept model that premiered in Geneva last year in its home market.

The new Korando Sports, which replaces the Actyon Sports – one of Ssangyong's "lookers" we told you about, is a four-door SUV with a pickup truck bed described by the Korean company as a leisure utility vehicle (LUV).

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New 2013 Porsche Boxster: 80 Photos, Videos and Online Configurator

Last night, Porsche lifted the covers off its all-new Boxster that will make its official world premiere at the upcoming 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March.

The two-seater roadster model will arrive in European dealerships in early April with a starting price of €48,291 (US$61,500) in Germany, followed by the U.S. later this summer with prices beginning from US$49,500 (€38,900).

The skinny on the third generation of the Boxster is that it's longer and wider, but at the same time lighter than the outgoing model, thanks to the new aluminum body and revised chassis, while it launches with a new 265HP 2.7-liter flat-six for the base model and a tweaked 3.4-liter unit with 315HP for the Boxster S.

A cleaner look with styling cues borrowed from the 918 Spyder Concept and an upgraded interior with more space and a more mature design, along with a fully automatic cloth top complete the highlights.

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The Most Beautiful Models of the Detroit Motor Show

The 2012 North American International Auto Show's press days are done and gone which only means one thing: it's time to show you some of the beautiful ladies that gave a sassier tone to the vehicle presentations at the Cobo Center in Detroit.

So, if you feel the need for some eye-candy, hop over the jump to check out our high-resolution gallery.

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New Mercedes-Benz SL and E-Class Hybrids Make their World Debut at the 2012 NAIAS

Launching the world’s most fuel-efficient full-size car and a brand-new groundbreaking roadster is not a bad way to draw people to your stand and that’s exactly what Mercedes-Benz did at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show with the two hybrid versions of the E-Class and the sixth generation of the SL roadster.

The diesel-powered E300 BlueTEC Hybrid returns a fuel economy of 4.2 lt/100 km on the European combined cycle (54.6mpg US). Its powertrain combines a four-cylinder turbodiesel engine with an output of 204HP and 500 Nm (368.7 lb-ft) of torque with a 20 kW (27HP) and 184.3 lb-ft (250 Nm) electric motor, and features an auto stop/start system, regenerative braking, a pure electric mode and a “sailing” function.

Since diesel models are not yet popular in the North American market, Mercedes also launched the E 400 Hybrid as well. The internal combustion unit is a 306HP and 272.9 lb-ft (370 Nm) V6 that runs on gasoline fuel, while the electric motor is the same as the E 300 BlueTec’s. The E400 Hybrid’s average fuel economy in accordance with American CAFE standards is 27 mpg (8.7 lt/100 km).

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New Toyota Prius C Hybrid Hatch Debuts in Detroit, Promises up to 53 mpg for Less than $19,000

About a month after Toyota revealed the Aqua at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan, the North American version of the model named the Prius C made its debut at the Detroit Auto Show today.

The Prius C is the most compact member of the Prius Family, which also includes the third generation Prius Liftback, the new Prius V minivan and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid that will arrive in early 2012.

About the same size as the latest Yaris, Toyota's new dedicated hybrid model is a sub-compact five door hatchback that measures 157.3 in. long, 56.9 in. tall, 66.7 in. wide and tips the scales at 2,500 lbs (1,134 kg) or 542 lbs. less than the regular Prius.

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2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Makes its U.S. Debut, gets 348HP V6 and 274HP 2.0L Turbo [Videos]

It may be one of the lesser exciting premieres of the 2012 Detroit Auto Show from a readers' perspective as the 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe was officially revealed in its home market last November, but that doesn't mean it's not important from a buyer's point of view.

The mid-life facelift brings several significant updates for the Genesis Coupe including new powertrains and transmissions.

Starting with the four-cylinder model, the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine gains a more precise twin-scroll turbocharger and larger intercooler boosting output to 274 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of peak torque on premium fuel, or 260-horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 260 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,000 rpm using regular fuel.

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2013 Ford Fusion Sedan Officially Revealed, will be Marketed as the Mondeo in the Rest of the World

The second-generation Fusion is the most important model Ford will launch at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. And this is because it's the Blue Oval's contender in the popular mid-size class not only in North America, but also in the rest of the world where it will replace the Mondeo.

The outgoing Fusion was the first model to feature Ford’s then-new five-bar grille, which was later adopted by the rest of its U.S. range. Likewise, its successor is the model that introduces the next evolution of Ford's design language previewed by the Frankfurt Motor Show Evos concept.

It is distinguished by the slim headlights and the hexagonal, Aston Martin-like front grille, while the bodywork looks like a sportier, tauter evolution of the European Mondeo.

“The previous Fusion was an easy purchase for a customer to rationalize”, said Chris Hamilton, chief exterior designer. “Our design goal for the new car was to give the mainstream sedan buyer a top-drawer visual experience, adding some emotional appeal to an already sensible choice.”

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Videos and Live Photos of Ford's Fiesta-Based EcoSport Study

Making its world premiere at this week's 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi, India, is the Ford EcoSport, a very thinly disguised concept that previews the company's upcoming entry in the compact SUV segment.

We've already brought you the official announcement and photos on the EcoSport, but now we have the first videos as well as a batch of live pictures from the New Delhi show, courtesy of India-based website Motorbeam.

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Official: Super-Duper Audi A1 Quattro with 256-Horses [44 Photos]

Audi has officially presented the meanest and baddest production version of its A1 series yet, aptly called the A1 Quattro. Both its name and styling details such as the white colored alloy wheels clearly draw on Audi's rallying heritage.

The first ever quattro version of Audi's premium supermini, which was previously thought to be named RS 1, will be produced in a limited run of just 333 units with sales to start in the second half of 2012.

Powering Ingolstadt's hot hatch is a tuned 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with direct injection and turbocharging technologies that produces 256HP at 6,000 rpm and a peak torque of 350 Nm (258.2 lb-ft) continuously available between 2,500 and 4,500 rpm.

The 2.0 TFSI is couple to a six-speed manual gearbox and Audi's quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. Audi says the A1 quattro sprints from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in 5.7 seconds and has a top speed of 245km/h (152mph), while it consumes on average less than 8.5 lt/100km (27.7 US mpg).

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New Citroën DS5 Poses Next to the Concorde Supersonic Passenger Airliner

Citroën is building on the attention brought about its new DS5 high-riding hatchback through a series of cinemagraphs released in November, by publishing a new set of artistic photographs.

This time, the DS5 poses under the wings of the iconic Concorde aircraft, which was the first, and to date only, supersonic passenger jet in the world, just as the legendary DS did back at its time.

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2013 Mercedes-Benz SL: Feast Your Eyes on 60 High-Res Photos and the First Official Videos

The last couple of days, the sixth-generation of the Mercedes-Benz SL roadster has been one of the hottest subjects on the web – and rightly so, as it introduces several new technologies that will eventually trickle down to the premium automaker's other models.

There's a lot to mention, but one of the highlights is the aluminum bodywork, which significantly reduces weight and has a positive effect on both agility and handling as well as fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

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