All New 2012 Chevrolet Cobalt Revealed in Production Form, will be Available in 40 Countries

The Chevrolet Cobalt may be dead in the States where it was successfully replaced by the Cruze sedan, but the nameplate lives on in the rest of the world.

After the debut of the concept version at the Buenos Aires motor show this past summer, General Motors today introduced the final production 2012 Cobalt that will eventually go on sale in 40 countries across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and South America - but not North America.

In addition to Brazil, which is the first country to receive the new Chevrolet Cobalt, the car will be produced in three more factories around the world, though GM did not disclose any more details on the locations.

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Honda's Newest Hybrid Model is a…Snowblower!

We've heard of hybrid cars, plants and even fish, but how about a hybrid snowblower? Honda's Power Equipment division came up with the idea and introduced its first hybrid snowblower model for the U.S. market.

So how does it work? The all-new Honda HS1336i hybrid combines a gasoline engine that simultaneously drives the machine's fan apparatus for clearing and throwing the snow and charges the battery, with a pair of electric motors that control the treads upon which it moves.

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It Came from eBay Hell: 1990 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible Thingamajig

If there was ever an automotive hell, you would probably be forced to roam the roads driving something like this customized 1990 Chrysler LeBaron that is currently up for sale on eBay.

The custom model mixes all sorts of bits and pieces from numerous eras and styles in a way that only someone with the taste buds of Victor Frankenstein would have been proud of calling his own. But as the old adage goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

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Mazda Takeri Sedan Concept Smiles for the Video Camera

This year's edition of the Tokyo Motor Show in December is gearing up to be one of the most exciting automotive events of the year as we're anticipating many important debuts including the Toyota FT-86 and Subaru BRZ twins, the new Honda CR-V and the reason why we're writing this article, the Mazda Takeri concept.

Even though Mazda's initial press release didn't disclose many details, the Takeri is believed to be a thinly disguised concept of the next generation of the Mazda6 sedan in the same way that the Minagi study previewed the CX-5 that was revealed in Frankfurt this September.

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GM Spokesperson Says Company May Object to Change of Saab Ownership

Buddhism preaches that karma passes from one life to another in reincarnation and that the outcome is based on what deeds are done in previous lives.

Now, Saab must have a really bad karma. There’s really no other explanation for the constant problem that arise, preventing the ailing Swedish carmaker from finding peace in securing its existence.

This time it’s not the Chinese government, the creditors, the suppliers, the workers’ unions, the Swedish debt office or the court-appointed administrator. All of the aforementioned parties have given their approval. Instead, in a surprising move, it's the company's former owner and current preference shareholder, General Motors, that’s may try to block the sale to Pang Da and Youngman.

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Video: BMW Motorcycle Breaks Free when Rider Attempts Wheelie

Some kids will never learn that motorcycle wheelies can go bad. This –fortunately humorous- video footage comes to us via South Korea with the protagonist on the BMW motorcycle attempting to pull a wheelie as soon as the light turned green.

It seems though that the Bavarian motorcycle had a different opinion as it threw down the rider and continued by itself for several feet before it came to a falling halt. Video follows after the break.

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Oh, You Shouldn’t Have: One Millionth Cruze is Chevy’s Present for its 100th Birthday

What present do you bring to a 100-year old company for its birthday? It depends: in Chevrolet’s case, the fact that the Cruze reached 1 million sales this week, less than two years after its global launch, is perfectly adequate.

Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet global marketing and strategy, also believes that this is a happy coincidence for Chevy’s Centennial: “I can’t think of a better birthday present”, he said. “Cruze’s combination of style, comfort, fuel efficiency and safety is a hit across the globe. Our customers know a winner when they drive it.”

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U Draw: Carscoop Reader Reimagines 2012 BMW 3-Series with a New Schnauze

BMW's turn to more conservative shapes and styles after the departure of design head honcho Chris Bangle in early 2009, hasn't satisfied all bimmer fans. In fact, some BMW aficionados believe the company should further simplify the designs of its cars.

And even though the design of the new 3-Series saloon is more or less an evolution of the previous model, Carscoop reader Steph S. thinks that BMW's bread-and-butter saloon could do with a bit of a redo up front, which truth to be said, is the only new styling element that stands out in the car.

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NHTSA Announces 2009's Most Stolen Vehicles, Audi S8 Tops the List, Sort Of...

An Audi S8 is a rare sight indeed in the U.S.A. Yet the A8 range-topper is also on top of the list in NHTSA’s recently published theft report for 2009.

As they say, there are lies, greater lies, and statistics: the S8’s number one position is somewhat misleading, however, since only two of the 227 cars that were sold that year were actually stolen. Statistically, though, this figure represents a theft rate of 8.8106 per 1,000 vehicles sold.

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Volvo Releases Videos Documenting the Development of the C30 Electric

Almost every carmaker already has, or is currently developing, at least one electric vehicle in its range. Volvo is part of that group and it has been testing its C30 Electric since autumn of 2010.

In June, the compact all-electric Volvo entered production –albeit at a limited rate, since it will be available for leasing only to a select number of European buyers.

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2012 Honda Ridgeline Pictured, Priced and Detailed, gets New Sport Trim

Despite seeing its sales drop by close to 50 percent in the first eight months of 2011 (from 11,320 units in Jan-Aug 2010, to 5,776 in the same period this year), the Honda Ridgeline is here to stay – at least for another year, that is.

For the 2012MY, Honda has made some mild changes to its unibody pickup truck that include visual tweaks, the introduction of a new Sport model and improved highway fuel economy.

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New Ferrari FF Proves a Little too Hot for its Driver… [Video]

The Ferrari FF hasn't been on the market for more than a few months yet there's already a case of one example catching fire.

According to reports from Germany, a 44-year old owner was out test-driving the FF on a motorway in Frankfurt in early October when he suddenly heard a "loud bang" and noticed flames coming out of the rear of the Italian supercar.

The driver then stopped over on the side of the road and saw what a €370,000 supercar getting roasted looks like.

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Thai Floods Cause Delay in European Launch of 2012 Honda Civic Hatch

The 2012 CR-V isn’t the only new Honda model to have its market launch delayed (albeit in the U.S.A.) due to the catastrophic floods in Thailand as the Japanese automaker confirmed that production of the 2012 Civic hatchback has also been affected.

"We are closely watching the supply chain situation," John Kingston, Honda Europe manager for corporate affairs told Autonews Europe during the press launch of the hatchback in Malaga, Spain. "Right now we fear the new Civic introduction will be delayed by three to four weeks."

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Toyota Dealer Awarded $7.5 Million in Damages After Rival Called Him “Taliban Toyota”

In Formula 1, the first driver you have to beat in order to prove your worth is your teammate. Likewise, in the car selling industry the fiercest competitors are dealerships that sell cars from the same brand.

There are, however, certain boundaries that cannot be crossed. Toyota, in particular, does have enough problems of its own and the last thing it needs is the company's dealers slandering each other.

Employees from Bob Tyler Toyota in Pensacola, Florida, scoffed the Iranian-born Shawn Esfahani, owner of Eastern Shore Toyota in Daphne, Alabama, by portraying him as an Islamist militant to customers.

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2012 Volkswagen Tiguan Sports up with New R-Line Packages

Volkswagen is adding some pizazz to its recently facelifted 2012 Tiguan SUV with the release of two R-Line packages, one for the interior and one for the exterior. Both packages are designed for the ‘Sport & Style’ trim model and come with a slew of visual upgrades.

On the outside, the exterior treatment includes more aggressively designed front and rear bumpers, roof spoiler, a black rear diffuser, R-Line logos, aluminium door sill plates and newly designed 19-inch alloy wheels with 255/40 tires.

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Chevy Volt Sales Close to 50% up in October, Outsells Nissan Leaf for the First Time

So far, Nissan’s all-electric Leaf has been the winner in the battle with the Volt extended-range hybrid, clearly outselling Chevy’s offering for the first half of 2011.

But not anymore: for the first time since the two models went on sale, GM announced that it sold 1,108 units in October, an increase of almost 50% over September’s 723 sales.

This is the first time Chevy’s hybrid outsold its main rival in the U.S. market, the Nissan Leaf, which last month sold 849 units compared to September’s figure of 1,031 deliveries.

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Official: Hot Opel Astra OPC / Vauxhall Astra VXR gets 280 Ponies, on Sale in 2012

It’s finally official; the production version of the most powerful model in the new Astra GTC range that will be marketed as the Opel Astra OPC in mainland Europe and as the Vauxhall Astra VXR in Britain.

These pictures show the Vauxhall model but the styling and the performance specifications are common between the two Astra GTC-based hot hatches.

Power is derived from a new 2.0-litre turbocharged direct injection four-cylinder engine capable of 280-horsepower and 400Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque that are channeled to the front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox and a specially developed mechanical limited slip differential.

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Video: Car Nut's Dream Job in New CNBC Series

It's might seem pretty rare these days but there are people that actually truly love what they do for a living and consider their jobs more play than work.

CNBC has set out to find these lucky individuals and share their experiences with television viewers through a new series called –what else- "Best Jobs Ever" that premieres tonight at 9:00 pm ET.

And while a photographer who shoots for Victoria's Secret may top the list of our male readers, you'll be interested to learn that there's a pretty cool car-related job, and no, we're not talking about automotive editors.

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BBR Offers New Power Kits for Mazda3 and Mazda6 MPS with up to 400HP

Power is the name of the game when it comes to UK tuning firm BBR that has just released a newly developed range of engine and suspension upgrade packages for the Mazda3 and Mazda6 MPS models (named MAZDASPEED3 and MAZDASPEED6 respectively in North America).

Since the two Mazda models are powered by the same 2.3-liter turbocharged four-pot, BBR's engine kits apply to both vehicles.

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Ballsy Brazilian Cops Ram their Car into Smuggler's Airplane Just Before Liftoff

Like all professions, there are cops and there are cops. The police officers you're about to watch in the following raw footage are the type of cops that even the most hardened of criminals would avoid like the plague.

A video posted online on Thursday shows the two federal police agents from Brazil chasing a single-engine airplane filled with contraband notebooks and electronic surveillance equipment.

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GM to Build New Chevy Colorado at Wentzville Plant

Less than a month after confirming the new Chevrolet Colorado for the North American market, GM today announced that the midsize pickup truck will be produced at its Wentzville Assembly plant in Missouri.

The Detroit-based automaker said that it will invest around $380 million to the prepare the factory for the new line, and as a result, create or retain about 1,260 jobs hourly and salaried jobs.

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Swede Turns a Lamborghini Gallardo into…a Ski Transporter

We'd hardly call the Lamborghini Gallardo –or any exotic supercar for that matter- the most appropriate type of vehicle for skiers travelling from one ski resort to the other, but professional freeskier and alpine ski racer Jon Olson strongly disagrees.

The 29 year-old Swede has made a habit of using Lamborghinis as his personal vehicles for driving to various ski events across Europe.

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Saab Deal Supported “In Principle” by Chinese Authorities

Last Friday, Swedish Automobile N.V. [Swan] signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Pang Da and Youngman for the sale of the Saab brand to the two Chinese companies.

A MoU, however, does not mean that the transaction is completed. Especially when the Chinese are involved: recently Subaru and Toyota were denied a new joint venture in the country by the local authorities, which have also been stalling on approving the previous Saab-Pang Da-Youngman deal that was signed back in July.

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U SPY: Next Generation of Hyundai Santa Fe / iX45 Spotted in Turkey

For the second time in less than two months, a Carscoop reader has snagged pictures of a prototype version of the next iteration of the Hyundai Santa Fe, which will most likely be renamed to iX45 in select regions including Europe.

In September, it was Italian reader Landoni Corrado who photographed the Korean SUV while traveling in California's Death Valley, and now these photos come courtesy of Alp Berker from half way around the world near Istanbul, Turkey.

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Crosswalks in Russia Can be Very Hazardous for Your Health…[Video]

Our video trip to Mother Russia today brings us two clips, both of which have to do with pedestrians trying to navigate the roads.

In the first video, we see a Russian man making the sign of the cross just before he attempts to walk across a busy road - and all for good reason as you can see in the second clip which, however, had a very surprising development, as it was the driver of the car who ended up making his cross instead…

Also, notice how carefully the driver approaches the next crosswalk on the road after his very brief Sunday school class.

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Updated C-Class Helps Mercedes Outsell BMW in the U.S. in October

The battle for luxury brand supremacy in the U.S. between the two main German contenders is far from over. Last month, Mercedes-Benz saw its sales increase by 23%, to 22,637 units, overtaking BMW that delivered 21,873 vehicles.

Mercedes sales have increased despite the fact that it reduced discounts by an average of 15% per vehicle in October, while its Munich-based rival increases its own incentives by 35%.

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Hollywood Aroma for 2011 LA Auto Show Design Challenge Concepts

For the past eight years, the LA Auto Show has been playing host to a design contest aimed at automaker design studios. Each year, a new Design Challenge theme is chosen with the studios showcasing their conceptual ideas during the press days of the show.

For 2011, the motorshow organizers are asking six automotive design studios from around the world, including Honda, Hyundai, Subaru, Mercedes-Benz, Smart and Maybach to come up with Hollywood’s next hottest movie car.

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SCOOP: Fresh Start for Third Generation 2013 MINI Hatchback

Our spy photographers have picked up a prototype of the new Mini hatchback Mk3 while it was out testing in Germany. This is the third generation of the Mini since the BMW Group resurrected the brand in 2001.

The Mk3 will sit on a brand new modular platform architecture named "ULK1" that has been designed for both front- and all-wheel drive applications, and will be used on a great variety of Mini and BMW models including a replacement for the recently launched 1-Series hatchback.

The three-door hatchback prototype spied in these photos will be the first ULK1-based Mini to arrive in the market in late 2013, followed by a raft of new body styles such as a convertible and replacements for the Coupe and Roadster among other models.

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Volkswagen Completes First Tests with New Polo R WRC [Video]

After making its motorshow debut in Frankfurt this past September, the new Volkswagen Polo R WRC completed its first laps today in the hands of two-time World Rally Champion and Dakar winner Carlos Sainz and Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the VW Board of Management for Technology.

The four-wheel drive WRC Polo R that is equipped with a 1.6-liter turbo engine delivering an output of about 300-horses was tested in the vineyards of Veldenz near Trier, which normally plays host to the ADAC Rallye Deutschland.

Hackenberg and Sainz, both with co-driver Timo Gottschalk on their side, were able to drive the car for close to 100 kilometers (62 miles) on the 2.8km-long tarmac circuit.

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Ferrari 458 Italia Driver is D-Bag of the Day

No matter how much of a good driver you are, getting behind the wheel of a powerful supercar like the Ferrari 458 Italia always has its risks. Even more so when you disable the electronic aids.

But as everybody knows and accepts, accidents can happen. What we can't accept is the way that the driver of this 458 Italia handled the situation after losing control and almost hitting three photographers situated on the side of the track.

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Report: Land Rover to Show Updated Version of DC100 Concept at LA Auto Show [New Photos]

[Early design rendering for DC100 pictured above]

Land Rover only recently showed its conceptual proposals for the 2015 Defender with the DC100 studies at the 2011 IAA in Frankfurt, but that's not stopping the British automaker from preparing an updated version that will make its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show in a couple of weeks' time.

The news comes courtesy of Edmund's Insideline, which had a brief encounter with Land Rover Global Brand Director, John Edwards.

The British firm's executive told the news outlet that Land Rover is testing the waters with the DC100 concepts and that it is a working project.

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Video: Cadillac Owner Pushes Newbie in VW to Safety

Let's face it; we all need a helping hand sometime in our life and luckily, there are people out there willing to step in.

Like the owner of this Cadillac crossover that was captured on film in an underground parking helping out the driver of what looks to be a previous generation Volkswagen Polo hatchback.

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2011 SEMA: Hyundai Showcases 450HP Genesis Coupe Hurricane SC [Video]

If you found Rhys Millen's 5.0-liter V8-powered Genesis Coupe a little bit over the top, you may want to take a look at a supercharged prototype based on the V6 model that also made its debut at the Las Vegas SEMA Show.

Named the Genesis Coupe Hurricane SC, the prototype is the result of a two year development effort of Hyundai America Technical Center Inc. (HATCI) in cooperation with Magnuson Products, Rhys Millen Racing, Harman International and Torvec Inc.

“One of the many exciting aspects of this project is that the Genesis Hurricane SC is not just another pretty face for the show circuit, but rather it is a hard working lab-rat that will push the bounds of this car and the whole vehicle segment," said Terry Peddicord, director of sales at Magnuson Products.

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Ford Fiesta ST 5-Door Concept to Receive World Premiere at LA Auto Show

At the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in September, Ford previewed its upcoming Fiesta ST with a thinly disguised concept based on the three-door hatchback model.

Now, the Detroit-based carmaker is heading to this month's Los Angeles Auto Show with a five-door hatchback variant of the Fiesta ST that should give us a taste of the North American model.

“With the Fiesta ST Concept, we are demonstrating that our global performance plan has legs," says Jost Capito, Ford director of Global Performance Vehicles

"The Fiesta ST Concept shows in the most dramatic way possible that the qualities that define an ST are not limited to one model [the Focus ST]. The potential for delivering the ST experience to an even wider audience is laid bare by this exciting new concept," he added.

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2011 SEMA Show Debut for Mazda5 Laguna SECA Support Vehicle

Albeit one of the lesser "zoom-zoom" models in Mazda's range, the Mazda5 minivan also received a special treatment for the 2011 Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas.

Dubbed the Mazda5 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (MRLS) support vehicle, the six-seater family car has been reimagined with a slightly sportier flair.

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Porsche to Bring New 911 Carrera and a World Premiere to LA Auto Show, What Could it be?

The 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show that runs for the public from November 18 to 27 will play host to two premieres for Porsche including the North American debut of the new 911 Carrera and Carrera S models [codenamed 991] and the first ever appearance of an as-of-yet unnamed model.

The only clues we get from Porsche about the new car is a short statement saying that it will "boast impressive performance and dynamic looks, exuding unadulterated driving pleasure".

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2013 Volkswagen CC Facelift Unveiled Before its LA Auto Show World Premiere

Some four years and 270,000 sales worldwide after the launch of the Volkswagen Passat's flashy four-door coupe sibling, it's time for the CC to receive its first mid-life makeover.

Set to make its world debut at the upcoming 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show later this month, the 2013 Volkswagen Passat packs some select visual scrub ups to bring it up to date with the German brand's more recent offerings.

You can spot the new model by the redesigned front that gets a new chrome-trimmed grille, reshaped headlamps that incorporate a ring of LEDs and a reworked bumper.

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You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide from New Cordon Multi-Target Photo Radar System

Speed cameras have nailed hundreds of thousands (or is it millions?) motorists all over the globe. Up until now, however, most of them have a weak point: their laser beams can’t track more than one vehicle at a time.

Peak Gain Systems Inc. promises to put an end to this with a new device, named “Cordon multi-target Photo Radar System”, which eliminates the current systems’ weakness and makes you think twice before exceeding the posted speed limit.

The device, which is very compact and can be mounted almost anywhere making it hard to spot, can focus on a wide-angle view and a close-up of a vehicle’s number plate simultaneously. It can track up to 32 cars (!) on four lanes, targeting their license plates and measuring their speed.

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Honda Publishes Mega Gallery with 140+ Photos of Euro-Spec 2012 Civic Hatchback

If you found our recent photo gallery of the European market 2012 Honda Civic at the 64th Frankfurt Motor Show somewhat lacking in quantity, you'll be happy to know that the Japanese carmaker has just dropped more than 140 high resolution pictures of the hatchback model for your viewing pleasure.

Honda claims that its new Civic hatchback is a great leap forward not only for the company but for the European C-segment as well, something that is echoed in the latest statements from the car's project leader, Mitsuru Karita.

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Hyundai Confirms Veloster Turbo for Australian Market

[EU-Spec Hyundai Veloster pictured above]

We've known about the turbocharged version of the Veloster since January, but Hyundai only recently made it official.

Following the announcement on the debut of the North American Velsoter Turbo at the Detroit Motor Show in January of 2012, the company's Australian arm revealed today that a 1.6-liter turbo petrol engine would join the three-door sport hatchback's line-up.

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Fiat Video Teases 500 Abarth “Bad Boy's” Arrival in the States

The American division of the Fiat Group is trying to create some buzz around the arrival of the most potent version of its retro-styled city car to date, the 500 Abarth, with a new video teaser.

Fiat's 23-second spot starts out by asking viewers "Does this country need another outcast?" and "Does this country need another rebel and another bad boy?", with the actual 500 Abarth only making a quick appearance towards the end.

Well, look at this way; at least it's not another minute-long video tribute to Jennifer Lopez…

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Kia to Build Third Plant in China to Satisfy Increased Local Demand

Kia Motors announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dongfeng Yueda Kia for the construction of its third Chinese plant at Yancheng in the Jiangsu Province.

The new factory, which will have an annual capacity of 300,000 units and is expected to be operational in the second half of 2014, will boost Kia’s annual local production to 730,000 units in order to satisfy the dramatically increasing demand for its vehicles.

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