Nissan has confirmed details about the cars it will bring to the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show floors that opens its doors in about two weeks' time on November 19 (for the press).

Highlighting Nissan's presence at the show are two special models: the futuristic looking three-seat BladeGlider Concept that will spawn a production model within the next couple of years, and which we get to see, and the new GT-R Nismo Edition, which we don't see now.

If you haven't figured it out already, the BladeGlider is the sports car Nissan executive vice president Andy Palmer was talking about in a recent interview with MotorTrend magazine in which he described the Toyota GT86 / Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ as cars "designed for a 50-year-old".

Nissan's answer to the 20-something of our times is the BladeGlider, which looks pretty nice from some specific angles and completely strange from all the rest, mainly because of its lopsided design reminiscent of Nissan's Deltawing and ZEOD RC electric racecar prototypes, in which the front end is much narrower than the rear.

Nissan says that the design with a narrow 1.0-meter (39.4 inches) lightweight front track and wide, stable rear track, helps "reduce drag and enhance maneuverability for high G cornering power, assisted by a 30/70 front/rear weight distribution ratio".

From the few technical details released, we learn that the BladeGlider sports a lightweight carbon-fiber underbody, carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) exterior body and in-wheel electric motors.

"When BladeGlider matures into a production car, it could be Nissan's first use of in-wheel motors," says Nissan. "The in-wheel motors provide rear-wheel propulsion with independent motor management, while also contributing to freedom of upper body design and space-efficient packaging," the company adds.

In a similar fashion to the McLaren F1, the three-seat car positions the driver in the center and up front, with the two passengers squeezed on either side and towards the rear.

Apparently, Nissan's goal with the BladeGlider is to invigorate the sports car segment with something completely new and fresh.

"The goal was to revolutionize the architecture of the vehicle to provoke new emotions, provide new value and make visible for consumers how Zero Emissions can help redefine our conception of vehicle basics," commented Francois Bancon, division general manager of Product Strategy and Product Planning at Nissan.

Besides the BladeGlider and the still under the wraps GT-R Nismo, Nissan's Tokyo Motor Show booth will play host to several other models, including the Dayz mini and Dayz Rook minivan, Teana sedan, X-Trail SUV and Elgrand minivan.

Ever heard of the saying a wolf in sheep's clothing? It's a phrase used all too frequently in the auto industry to describe timid-looking cars that pack a knockout punch. If you haven't, here's a real-life example: Sergio's Lada 2014 Station Wagon.

You can't really get more humble than an old Soviet-era Lada that traces its roots all the way back to the original Fiat 124. That is the sheep's clothing part of the equation, because under the boring shell, this Lada from Greece hides the platform, interior and a heavily modded SR20DET 2.0-liter turbo from a Nissan Silvia/200SX/240SX.

In some of the videos we found, the Lada Wagon 240SX is said to deliver somewhere in the range of 400 wheel-horsepower, but could that be enough to humiliate what appears to be the famed Porsche 911 GT2 RS?

Remember, this Porsche came with a 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six twisting out a massive 612hp (620PS) with a claimed 0-100km/h (62mph) time of just 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 330km/h (205mph).

Understandably, without questioning the ferociousness and speed of the Lada, we do have some reservations about the Porsche – was the driver giving everything it had and was it a real 911 GT2 RS or a replica?

There are many approaches to the future, but highly likely, problem of overcrowding roads and the inherent nonrenewability of oil. The Canadian URBEE project proposes one that uses 3D printing technologies, and a kind of homemade hybrid system that mates a small ethanol-fueled engine to two electric motors for extreme efficiency.

No exact figures are given, but the URBEE 2, the second prototype they've built, does reach a top speed of 110 km/h o 69 mph. However, we can still call it extremely efficient, though, because of the creators' stated plan to cross the United States from east (New York) to west (San Francisco) using just 10 gallons of fuel, or 38 liters.

If they succeed, the trip, which Google calculated would take them 44 days (at least), will make history because it will be the mark the first time such a vehicle has undertaken such a feat.

It won't happen now, but it's planned to commence in around two years' time, with the help of the crowds. There's definite promise here – a lot more than that hoverboard project we featured a while back, that's for certain.

Do make sure to scroll down and click play on the first of the videos posted below – project leader Jim Kor will fill in any of the blanks you may still have.

By Andrei Nedelea

If, for whatever reason, you weren't convinced that the Cadillac CTS was worth a look in the crowded BMW 5-Series and Lexus GS class, perhaps MotorTrend choosing it as their car of the year will.

The CTS managed to impress the judges for all of the noted criteria, proving to be a consistent package that also happens to be very well balanced and good to drive.

Its well-judged looks were also a positive talking point, as were the engines and the one in the Vsport in particular, though; even the smallest 2.0-liter turbo unit was called competent, despite the size of the car. In this context, we are reminded that the CTS is lighter than most of its rivals, reaping all of the inherent advantages that it brings.

If you're still not convinced that it should be chosen as the year's most prominent example of automotive advancement, check out the video posted after the virtual jump, as well as other videos that praise the paint off it...

By Andrei Nedelea

For many BMW enthusiasts, the E39 generation, built from 1995 to 2003, is the pinnacle of the 5-Series as well as of the M5 flagship, combining timeless looks (especially after the mid-cycle facelift) with great handling, a high quality (not to be confused with reliability – see video below) interior and with the bigger engines, performance too.

If you're a person that enjoys some adrenaline shots, then the two E39 models to gun for are the 540i M Sport with a manual gearbox and naturally, the queen of the series, the M5, which was available only with a stick shift.

While scouring the net for used rides, I saw this extremely low mileage 2002 BMW M5 listed on Autotrader by EAG – the dealer BMW owners love to hate for the same exact reason: their pinched prices (they love them if they're selling and hate them if they're buying…).

The Imola Red colored (on the outside, Silverstone Two-Tone Leather on the inside) super saloon was used only for a mere 3,934 miles or 6,330 kilometers, which makes it a very rare specimen indeed. Whether that justifies the $67,990 price tag for the 395hp (400PS) 4.9-liter V8 M5 is something that depends on how much you really want a car like this.

Forza 5 starts shipping November 22, so Microsoft's hype-making machine is being cranked up to its maximum setting in preparation. So, not only was the game recently shown off at the Paris Games Week 2013 in what should be its final form, but we were also mesmerized into gluing our eyes to the screen when watching (and re-watching) the official trailers posted below.

Along with them, developer Turn 10 Studios released the final part of its cars list, as well as announcing the first (of so many) downloadable content packs (DLC).

The latter is called the LaFerrari Car Pack, and as you can imagine, it grants users access to driving the Prancing Hybrid flagship – I don't understand why it's called a car pack, when it only comes with one car, but it's so nicely and intricately modeled, that I forgot how this sentence started… It also promises to drive in a realistic and enjoyable manner, and sound good as well.

Regarding the rest of the featured vehicles, the list we have below should represent the exact number and the names of the ones shipping with the game. Be warned, though, that a whole host of cars seem to have appeared on the list, and we were not told about them – this a different list to the one we had before and uses 'by year' sorting. It contains 207 entries, but since it's all proven to be inconsistent so far, we'll refrain from calling it final or exact just yet.

1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe
1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
1960 Chevrolet Corvette
1961 Jaguar E-type S1
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
1963 Volkswagen Beetle
1964 Aston Martin DB5
1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA Stradale
1965 MINI Cooper S
1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C
1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe
1966 Ford GT40 MkII
1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 427
1967 Lamborghini Miura P400
1968 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds 442
1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS Coupe
1969 Chevrolet Nova SS 396
1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302
1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
1969 Pontiac GTO Judge
1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS-454
1970 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1
1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS 454
1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator
1970 Nissan Datsun 510
1971 AMC Javelin-AMX
1971 Lotus Elan Sprint
1971 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R
1971 Plymouth Cuda 426 Hemi
1973 BMW 2002 Turbo
1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455
1976 Ferrari #1 Scuderia 312T2
1976 Ferrari #1 Scuderia Ferrari 312T2
1976 McLaren #11 Team McLaren M23
1976 McLaren #11 Team McLaren M23
1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
1981 BMW M1
1982 Lancia 037 Stradale
1983 Audi Sport Quattro
1984 Ferrari GTO
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI
1985 Ford RS200 Evolution
1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT Apex
1986 Lancia Delta S4
1987 Buick Regal GNX
1987 Ferrari F40
1987 RUF CTR Yellowbird
1988 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 QV
1990 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II
1991 BMW M3
1991 Ferrari 512 TR
1991 GMC Syclone
1991 Mazda #55 787B
1992 Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1992 Honda NSX-R
1992 Volkswagen Golf Gti 16v Mk2
1993 Ford SVT Cobra R
1993 McLaren F1
1993 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec
1994 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta
1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1994 Nissan 240SX SE
1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205
1995 Ferrari F50
1995 Ford Mustang Cobra R
1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
1995 RUF CTR2
1995 Toyota MR2 GT
1995 Volkswagen Corrado VR6
1997 BMW M3
1997 Honda Civic Type R
1997 Lamborghini Diablo SV
1997 Mazda RX-7
1997 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec
1998 Eagle Talon TSi Turbo
1998 Ferrari #12 Risi Competizione F333 SP
1998 Subaru Impreza 22B STi
1998 Toyota Supra RZ
1999 Dodge Viper GTS ACR
1999 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI GSR
2000 Ford SVT Cobra R
2000 Nissan Silvia Spec-R
2001 Acura Integra Type-R
2002 Chevrolet Camaro 35th Anniversary SS
2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
2002 Ferrari Enzo Ferrari
2003 BMW M5
2003 Ferrari Challenge Stradale
2003 Nissan Fairlady Z
2003 Renault Sport Clio V6
2003 Toyota Celica SS-I
2003 Volkswagen Golf R32
2004 Honda Civic Type-R
2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR
2004 Saleen S7
2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi
2005 BMW M3
2005 Dodge SRT4 ACR
2005 Ford Ford GT
2005 Honda NSX-R
2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR
2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STI
2005 TVR Sagaris
2006 Aston Martin #007 Aston Martin Racing DBR9
2006 Audi RS 4
2007 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
2007 Ferrari 430 Scuderia
2007 Ford Shelby GT500
2007 Honda Civic Type-R
2008 Aston Martin DBS
2008 BMW M3
2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR
2008 Ferrari California
2009 BMW #92 Rahal Letterman Racing M3 GT2
2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
2009 Ford Focus RS
2009 Honda S2000 CR
2009 Jeep Cherokee SRT8
2009 Lexus IS F
2009 Lotus 2-Eleven
2009 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works
2009 Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster
2009 Peugeot #9 Peugeot Sport Total 908
2010 Abarth 500 esseesse
2010 Aston Martin One-77
2010 Audi R8 5.2 Coupé FSI quattro
2010 Audi R8 Coupé 5.2 FSI quattro
2010 Audi TT RS Coupé
2010 Ferrari 458 Italia
2010 Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SV
2010 Lexus LFA
2010 Maserati Gran Turismo S
2010 Mazda Mazdaspeed 3
2010 Nissan370Z
2010 Renault Megane RS 250
2010 Volkswagen Golf R
2011 Audi RS 3 Sportback
2011 Audi RS 5 Coupé
2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe
2011 BMW X5 M
2011 BMW Z4 sDrive35is
2011 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe
2011 Chevrolet #4 Corvette Racing ZR1
2011 Citroen DS3 Racing
2011 Ferrari #62 Risi Competizione F458 Italia
2011 Ferrari 599 GTO
2011 Ford #5 Ford Performance Racing FG Falcon
2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
2011 Holden #1 Toll Holden Racing Team Commodore VE
2011 Holden HSV GTS
2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe
2011 Kia Cee'd
2011 Koenigsegg Agera
2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera
2011 Mazda RX-8 R3
2011 McLaren MP4-12C
2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
2011 Peugeot 308 GTI
2011 RUF Rt 12 S
2011 Subaru WRX STI
2011 Volkswagen Scirocco R
2012 Aston Martin Vanquish
2012 Audi #1 Audi Sport Team Joest R18 e-tron quattro
2012 BMW M5
2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8
2012 Dallara #28 Andretti Autosport DW12
2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392
2012 Dodge Charger SRT8
2012 Ferrari F12berlinetta
2012 Hennessey Venom
2012 Hyundai Veloster Turbo
2012 Jaguar XKR-S
2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4
2012 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged
2012 Lotus Exige S
2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series
2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG
2012 Nissan GT-R Black Edition
2012 Pagani Huayra
2012 Scion tC
2012 Vauxhall Astra VXR
2013 Ariel Atom 500 V8
2013 Audi R8 Coupé V10 plus 5.2 FSI quattro
2013 Audi RS 7
2013 Audi S4
2013 Chevrolet #1 Andretti Autosport Dallara DW12
2013 Chevrolet #12 Team Penske Dallara DW12
2013 Dallara #9 Target Ganassi Dallara DW12
2013 Ford Focus ST
2013 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500
2013 Honda #15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Dallara DW12
2013 Honda #9 Target Chip Ganassi Dallara DW12
2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track
2013 KTM X-Bow R
2013 Lotus E21
2013 Mazda MX-5 Miata
2013 McLaren P1
2013 Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG
2013 Subaru BRZ
2013 Toyota GT86
2013 Viper #91 SRT Motorsport GTS-R
2013 Viper GTS
2014 Ford Fiesta ST

The memories of the original AE86 generation of the Toyota Corolla Levin and Sprinter Trueno are slowly drifting way with each generation of new drivers, but the spirit of the "Hachi-roku" lives on in its spiritual successor, the Toyota 86 (also badged as the Toyota GT 86, and of course, as the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ).

Still, there are plenty of fans left of the rear-wheel drive model. We know this may sound strange to the ears of some, but these folks might get a tad emotional watching this video from the crew at YouTube's mcmtv2, who stumbled upon what they described as, a "Toyota AE86 cemetery" behind a shop in Japan.

"Out in the country side of Japan we found this row of AE86's rusting away in the jungle," they noted.

Slide your mouse pointer pass the break to watch the clip.

Brabus has dressed the B63S-700 Widestar in police livery for the Dubai International Motor Show 2013, with the project being part of the "Tune It! Safe!" project that has been promoting safe, responsible tuning in Germany since 2005.

The specially equipped Brabus B63S-700 Widestar that's based on the Mercedes G63 AMG will be given to the Dubai Police department.

The Brabus B63S-700 6x6 may have been more spectacular for the job, but the German aftermarket specialist chose the standard B63S Widestar. With 700 PS (690hp) produced by the 5.5-liter V8 biturbo engine, the Brabus police car will surely be able to keep up with the supercars that are present on the Emirate's roads. It can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 240 km/h (149 mph).

The unusual police vehicle features 23-inch Brabus Platinum Edition monoblock forged wheels and the Brabus Dynamic Ride Control suspension with two settings (comfortable and sporty). It also sports the traditional green and white livery of the Dubai Police and signalling lights, as well as a series of tuning parts.

The Widestar package includes fender flares including door add-ons and LED side step illumination, while the front spoiler has underbody protection and LED daytime running lights. There's also a Brabus roof spoiler including an additional brake light, entrance panels with illuminated Brabus logo for all 5 doors. Details include the Brabus door lock pins and aluminum pedal pads, as well as the black Brabus floor mats with leather edging. 

By Dan Mihalascu

The general census on the C-X17 concept here on Carscoops is that most readers like what Jaguar is proposing for the compact luxury SUV segment. Needless to say, giving a thumbs up to a study and buying the production version if and when it comes out are two very different things…

Now, while the C-X17 crossover does stand a very good chance to come to life, especially since it's built on a new Jaguar platform already confirmed for use on a production car (the new BMW 3-Series challenging compact luxury sedan), we're 99.9 percent sure that this interpretation of the SUV will never see the day of light.

Crafted by the designer at X-Tomi Design, it proposes a two-door pickup truck body style for the C-X17.

Do check the independent rendering below and if any ideas about what a Jag like this could be named pops in mind, share the thought in the comments.

One fire could be an isolated case, a second fire may be a coincidence, but how should one explain a third Tesla Model S fire over the course of six weeks? We're not sure, but the third Model S fire is real and happened on November 6 in Smyrna, Tennessee, U.S. – ironically the place where Nissan builds its Leaf electric car.

The incident was first reported on the Tesla Motors Club forum, where a user posted a picture of the burnt car. The story was picked up by the media and quickly led to a drop of 9 percent of Tesla's share price by midday trading on Thursday. Tesla officials confirmed the fire to ValueWalk, with a company spokesperson saying the fire was triggered by a traffic accident and was not a spontaneous event.

"We have been in contact with the driver, who was not injured and believes the car saved his life. Our team is on its way to Tennessee to learn more about what happened. We will provide more information when we're able to do so," Tesla's representative said.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the incident occurred on Interstate 24 in Smyrna when the electric car "ran over a tow hitch" that "hit the undercarriage of the vehicle causing an electrical fire." The Model S' lithium-ion battery pack is protected by an armor plating.

The first Tesla Model S fire happened early in October when the car collided with a large metal object on the road, resulting in a 7 percent drop of the company's stock price. The second fire occurred at the end of October when a drunk driver in Mexico crashed through a roundabout, a wall and a tree. None of the drivers or passengers involved in the three fires were injured.

By Dan Mihalascu

Story References: Reuters , Marketwatch via Jalopnik

Thanks to EH Deadwood for the tip!

Oh, Russia, what would we do without your visually amusing dash-cam videos? So, what's the deal with this incident, you ask? Well, we have a car and two young pedestrians, who the driver claims were purportedly drunk. To his defense, one of the two lads would have a hard time passing a DUI straight-line test.

On the other hand, though, what's with these super aggressive drivers heading towards pedestrians without slowing down or giving way?

Back to the clip, next thing you know, we see the young men breaking the car's windshield with rocks, not once but at least twice - after the driver went after them…

Watch the video below and do tell who you think is more at fault here in the comments board.

After recording impressively gaining sales for its regular hybrid models, Ford is now boasting having overtaken Toyota in the plug-in sector too, and it reports that its Energi-branded models outsold the Prius plug-in. This was possible through 45 percent better sales than they have ever record (in October).

When it comes to the actual numbers, Ford is proud to have shifted 2,179 Fusion and C-Max Energi models last month, in the same time it took Toyota to find owners for 2,095 plug-in Priuses (Prii?).

As they put it, they catapulted "from zero market share to 34 percent in 13 months," an impressive achievement, and one that should really start to worry Toyota, which up until recently was the hybrid and alternative fuel champion in the US.

It's worth noting that some places contributed more to the growth than others, though, like New York, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. – here, sales doubled from the previous month!

It is also partly due to the increase in size of the entire sector, which grew from a total of 29,526 vehicles sold through October of 2012 to the 39,083 we recorded as having been sold this year.

By Andrei Nedelea

The third in a series of six limited-edition Bugatti Legends models is dedicated to Meo Constantini, a close friend of company founder Ettore Bugatti, the head of Bugatti factory race team and a two-time winner of the Targa Florio race.

The Bugatti Legend Meo Constantini is also a tribute to the Bugatti Type 35, one of the most successful racing cars of all time, which Constantini drove in Targa Florio races.

The car debuted at the Dubai International Motor Show (November 5-9). Just like the previous two Legend models, dedicated to Jean-Pierre Wimille and Jean Bugatti, the Meo Constantini edition is based on the Veyton 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and will be limited to only three cars, priced at €2.09 million each ($2.82 million), excluding taxes and transport.

Unique styling touches include aluminum wings, doors, parts behind the doors, the "medaillons" and corners of the front bumper. The parts are hand-polished and coated with clear lacquer. The carbon fiber parts are painted blue, France's classic motor sport color, with the color "Bugatti Dark Blue Sport" being specially developed for the vehicle.

The silhouette of the historic Targa Florio race course is painted on the underside of the rear wing, while Meo Constantini's signature is engraved by laser into the aluminum tank and oil caps and painted in silver.

The interior is completely upholstered in leather, with the roof, footwell, center sections of the seats and rear wall sporting the color "Gaucho", a sophisticated cognac tone. The seat's side cushions, arm rests, extended center console, door panels, dash panel, instrument panel and steering wheel are all trimmed in dark blue leather in the "Lake Blue" color. The cabin also features racing scenes and vintage car motifs on the doors, which have been laser-engraved into the leather trim.

Technically, it is identical with the Bugatti Veyron16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, which means it's powered by an 8-liter W16 engine producing 1,200hp and 1,500 Nm (1,106 lb-ft) of torque. The roadster accelerates to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.6 seconds and can reach a top speed of 409 km/h (253 mph) with the top down.

By Dan Mihalascu

Engine sounds play a big part in the driving experience, and it is something that car enthusiasts always pay attention to, regardless of the type of vehicle. Regular buyers do too, but usually, they're more interested in the…lack of any mechanical noises.

Porsche, as maker of sports cars (okay, with a few V6 crossover exceptions), understands that need and tunes its exhausts accordingly, from the track treat that is the 911 GT3, to the mature family man's Panamera Turbo sedan and the upcoming (and soon to be its best-selling model), the new Macan compact luxury SUV.

In the following videos released by German magazine Autobild, we get to hear all three of the aforementioned Porsche vehicles.

While, I expected to like the GT3 the most, it was too raspy for my tastes and my vote landed on the angry lion roar-style sounds produced by the Panamera's turbo'd V8. Which one did you like the most?

Icon makes some sick four-wheeled creations by taking old existing vehicles (usually 4x4s) and turning them into off-road capable hand-crafted luxury vehicles which garner a whole lot more appeal than in their stock form…

Now though, they've moved into two-wheeled territory, with the all-new E-Flyer electric bicycle which, like all their creations, is good enough to pin to the wall and just stare at – it wouldn't be very practical with one of their usual offerings, but instead of buying a $4,995 (€3,700) painting, the new bike would look smashing as a fireplace mantel piece…

You could ride it too for up to 35 miles or 56 km, though, and reach a top speed of 20 mph in street legal mode and 36 mph in race mode (that's 32 and 58 km/h respectively).

Still, that means you run the risk of crashing it, and scratching the hydroformed aluminum frame, or the actual hand-done leatherwork that it features, which you wouldn't want to do.

It's available for order now, but make haste as they're only making fifty of them in total. Check it out here and in the gallery below.

By Andrei Nedelea

Story References: Icon via Autoblog.com

Nissan has finally revealed the all-new, second-generation Qashqai crossover that sports a completely new design, in line with the brand's new Rogue and X-Trail crossovers.

The new model is 49mm (1.93 inches) longer than its predecessor is, but fractionally lower and wider. However, it maintains the sleek stance of the model and the raised driving position. While it looks a lot like the Rogue overall, the Qashqai (to be offered as the Dualis in some markets) has a sportier look and much bigger taillights, somewhat similar to those on the Ford Focus wagon.

The story is similar inside, with the cabin being very similar to the Rogue/X-Trail. Nissan says the quality and design of materials are dramatically improved, with the new Qashqai also delivering greater occupant space and a larger luggage capacity.

The Qashqai is available with two petrol and two diesel engines, with the option of two- or four-wheel-drive and manual or Xtronic automatic transmissions. The entry-level engine is Renault-Nissan's 1.2-liter DIG-T engine with 115PS (113hp) and 190 Nm (140 lb-ft), tuned specifically for the new Qashqai. With the six-speed manual and FWD configuration, the engine averages 5.6 l/100 km (42 mpg US) and emits 129g/km of CO2.

The other gasoline engine is a 150PS (148hp) 1.6-liter DIG-T that will join the range in the summer of 2014. The engine produces 240 Nm (177 lb-ft) of torque and averages 5.6 l/100 km (42 mpg US), emitting 132 g of CO2 per km.

The most efficient engine on the new Qashqai is the 110PS (108hp) 1.5-liter dCi diesel. Fitted with a standard start-stop system, it averages 3.8 l/100 km (61.9 mpg US) and has CO2 emissions of just 99 g/km. Nissan says the engine is more refined and quieter than before, while also having 20 Nm (14.7 lb-ft) more torque.

The most powerful diesel unit, the new 130PS (128hp) 1.6 dCi, averages 4.4 l/100 km (53.4 mpg US) and has CO2 emissions of 115 g/km in two-wheel drive manual form. The 4WD manual verson averages 4.9 l/100 km (48 mpg US), while the 2WD with the all-new Xtronic CVT gearbox has a combined fuel consumption of 4.6 l/100 km (51.1 mpg US).

The new Qashqai features Nissan's Safety Shield technologies that now incorporate Front Collision Avoidance, Driver Attention Support and Traffic Sign Recognition, while Intelligent Park Assist helps with urban maneuvers. Despite packing more technology, some models are up to 40 kg (88 lbs) lighter than the previous generation.

The Qashqai will be built in Sunderland, UK, and will go on sale in selected global markets from January 2014.

By Dan Mihalascu

Technically, the winter season in Russia begins in December, but there's nothing really autumny about the weather right now in Khabarovsk, a city located some 30 kilometers or 19 miles from the Chinese border, where there's plenty of snow with freezing temperatures of around 19 Fahrenheit or -7 Celsius (last we checked).

And naturally, when the white flakes begin to fall from the sky and fill the land and roads below, the cameras come out to record all the troublesome (for motorists) and amusing (for sofa and office chair viewers) incidents that take place during these harsh weather times.

In the following video, you'll see what happened earlier this morning when cars and trucks lost the traction battle with the snow.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation have announced plans to develop shared products, technologies and manufacturing capacity, as the existing strategic cooperation between Nissan and Mitsubishi will be expanded across the broader Renault-Nissan Alliance.

Nissan and Mitsubishi's existing NMKV joint-venture company will be extended to co-develop a new small-segment car including an electric version that can be sold globally. The basis for this new model will be the jointly-developed "Kei car" platform from the Japanese domestic market. The first models based on the platform – the Nissan Dayz and Mitsubishi eK wagon – went on sale in Japan this year.

Renault-Nissan and Mitsubishi will also share "technologies and product assets related to electric vehicles and latest-generation platforms". The first of these will be two Mitsubishi sedans based on Renault vehicles.

The first sedan will compete in the full-size D-segment markets of the United States and Canada and will be built at the Renault-Samsung plant in Busan, South Korea. No further details were offered about this model, but it's safe to say it will use a Renault Samsung platform, just like the Renault Latitude and Renault Samsung SM5.

The second sedan model will be a global C-segment car for which the manufacturing location has not been yet decided. We can only speculate that the platform used will be from the Renault Samsung SM3 model, which also underpins the European market Renault Fluence.

"I welcome the direction being taken towards this broader cooperation, creating new opportunities for Renault in addition to further leveraging the productive relationship between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors," said president and CEO of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, Carlos Ghosn.

By Dan Mihalascu

As the title of this article so eloquently states, the small Linea sedan was entirely engineered and built in Turkey by Tofaş under a joint-venture agreement with Fiat. It's based on the same platform as the Puno, and has been in production at the manufacturer's Bursa plant, in the northwest of the country, since 2007, alongside the cheaper (old Palio-based) Albea and a whole bunch of differently-badged small commercial vehicles.

Now, AutoNews Europe reports that a replacement model for it is now surely in the pipeline, as per a statement made at the Istanbul Stock Exchange, which went along the lines of a $520 / €385 investment in the aforementioned plant "to more than double production to 580,000 vehicles by 2023 from 256,428 in 2012."

Just like the current Linea, the new car will be designed with a global model mentality in mind, and one third of the production is expected to be steered towards export.

However, no details as to what it will be like have been spilled, so all we can do now is wait for spy photographers to spot the mules, then the heavily camouflaged test cars, before it will finally be fully revealed.

If you have no idea what the Fiat Linea is, or what its purpose is, check it out from an Indian perspective, via the video below (India is the only partly English-speaking country where it is sold).

By Andrei Nedelea

The latest Design Handbook video uploaded by Autoline Daily moves away from talking directly about car bodies, their shapes and features, in order to focus on wheel sizes and the modern trend of fitting huge rims to just about every model that will take them.

It's explained that big rims were a thing, even before they started actually being (over)used – their precursor were white wall tires that visually minimized the apparent black tire sidewall to make it look like the rim was actually bigger than it really was.

Now, those tires are out of fashion on new cars, but they have been replaced by the real thing. Practically any vehicle that isn't a city car or supermini can usually be had with 18-inch wheels, many going as high as 20-inch on larger models. The video chooses an excellent example to show how our perception of rim sizes has been made to change by the cars that are manufactured – it compares a BMW 7-Series E38 to the latest F01/F02 model, both riding on 18-inch rims, and proves the point.

Check it out after the virtual jump and tell us if you agree with the supersizing of wheels on all cars, or if you think it's a bit brash and perhaps an effort to steer buyers' attention away from the fact that most new cars are losing their substance.

By Andrei Nedelea

Official imagery of the second generation Nissan Qasqhai has surfaced online. The new model, which will likely continue to be known as the Dualis in certain markets outside of Europe like Australia and Japan, encompasses familiar design and styling treats from the bigger 2014 Rogue / X-Trail, but it has some sharper details like the beltline and more rakish rear window that grant it a more dynamic appearance.

The same can be said about the interior of the compact crossover, as the dashboard styling is almost identical to the Rogue / X-Trail twins.

Other details we managed to learn is that the Qashqai will launch next year in Europe with manufacturing to take place at Nissan's Sunderland plant in England. The crossover model will offer European buyers an initial choice of a 1.2-liter turbocharged gasoline unit with 113bhp that replaces the current 1.6-liter engine along with 1.5-liter and 1.6-liter turbo diesels.

More info and pictures are expected later today, so stay tuned. 

Opel revealed the "Adam & Vale for Charity", a fully customized version of the city car designed by multiple MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi and Aldo Drudi, a designer who has collaborated with Valentino on his bikes, racing overalls and helmets for a long time. The unique Adam will be on display at the EICMA international motorcycle exhibition (November 7-10) in Milan, Italy.

Rossi and Drudi have put their mark on the Opel Adam, which has been customized from roof to wheels. The car features drawings from The Doctor's graphic universe, including Valentino's most widely known images and the symbols most treasured by him.

The car's intricate livery was designed, redesigned and applied on the bodywork over the course of three months by a team of four people, as Rossi and Drudi changed their minds rather often.

The psychedelic theme of the exterior is continued in the cabin, where Dainese leather was used to trim the seats and doors. No word on performance upgrades, though.

"To tell the truth, the design phase took a very long time," said Aldo Drudi. "It took us hours of hard work, but then you know Valentino, he is hard to please. And so am I. Scores of drawings were produced, phone calls were made and every time we decided to change everything and started all over again. In other words, it was exhausting but it was worth the effort," he added.

The car will be put for auction during a fund-raising event next December to support a charity initiative sponsored by Opel: the Meyer Children's Hospital Foundation

By Dan Mihalascu

For over 60 years now, the Patrol has held the flagship title in Nissan's SUV lineup. It's also massively popular in the Middle East, which is why Nissan chose this week's Dubai Auto Show for the world premiere of the latest iteration of the series that will soon go on sale in select markets around the world.

The sixth generation Patrol hasn't been around for long (it was presented in 2010) so there are no significant changes for this mid-life refresh, just minor cosmetic updates to keep the SUV looking contemporary.

These include a revised front end, together with modified tail lamp fixtures, a tan-leather seat option with a wood-trimmed steering wheel and fresh alloy wheel designs. Nissan also added a new Patrol Black Special Edition with a black matte exterior shade, chrome detailing and red seats, of which only 200 units will be made.

Nissan has shared fresh photos of its second generation Qashqai, known as the Nissan Dualis in Japan and Australia, as it was unloading the wrapped examples of its compact crossover at the location in England where it will hold the premiere of the car later today at 14:10 GMT.

From spy shots as well as Nissan's own teasers, the new Qashqai looks like a shrunk down version of the bigger 2014 Rogue / X-Trail.

Set to go on sale in Europe and other (select) markets around the world early next year, Nissan's crossover model will feature a revised engine lineup that will include the brand's new turbocharged 1.2-liter petrol unit along with several diesel powerplants.

Nissan has made some big claims about the Qashqai, including that it will "redefine the crossover sector and set new standards across the board". We'll soon see how much of that holds true.

There's a common misconception that an all-wheel drive car is all one needs to be safe when driving in winter. While AWD is important and gives more peace of mind to the driver, it is completely useless if the car rides on inappropriate tires.

To demonstrate that, AutoExpress magazine took two Ford Kuga SUVs, a front-wheel drive and an all-wheel drive model, both fitted with the same 2.0-liter diesel engine and manual gearbox, and put them to an interesting test. First, they wanted to see which car goes further up the snow-covered slope using summer tires.

Needless to say, both the FWD and the AWD Kuga proved useless in those conditions. The most telling comparison was between the FWD Kuga on winter tires and the AWD car on summer tires. To put it simply, the front-wheel drive car humiliated the 4WD model.

However, when the all-wheel drive Kuga made the switch to winter tires, the situation improved dramatically in its favor. We know this type of test has been done before, but it's still worth watching.

By Dan Mihalascu