Through October, U.S. sales of the Focus ST since launch are just under 12,000 units, with the strongest demand reported in Detroit, Los Angeles, Houston and Orlando.

What's more interesting is that 65 percent of Focus ST buyers came from other brands, trading a non-Ford vehicle to buy their car. Ford says this is the highest percentage of conquest sales for a non-hybrid vehicle among all Ford cars and trucks. Most traded-in cars came from brands like Honda, Chevrolet, Mazda and Toyota.

Focus ST buyers are not only new to the brand, but also young. 32 percent of them are under 35 year-old, compared with 22 percent of non-ST Focus owners. They're richer too, having an average annual salary of $127,000, compared with $67,000 for non-ST Focus buyers – always according to Ford's statement and data, and yes, these numbers did raise our eyebrows.

The Focus ST also plays the role of a magnet for the Ford brand, as some buyers that come to dealerships to see it end up with a different Ford model, most often a Fusion sedan or Escape SUV.

"It's having the kind of halo effect for other vehicles we'd hoped for when we invested in the ST brand," said John Felice, vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service.

As a quick reminder, the Focus ST is powered by a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine rated at 250-horsepower and 265 lb-ft (360 Nm) of peak torque. The Focus ST is only available as a five-door hatchback in the U.S., with a standard six-speed manual transmission.

By Dan Mihalascu

Spotted in a parking lot in Moscow by Autogespot spotter (okay, I'm done with the spots now) Casador, this is the very rare Chopster made back in 2005 as a joint project between the crazy Swiss minds at Rinspeed AG and EDAG Engineering + Design AG.

It's based on the first generation of the Porsche Cayenne, but has a 70mm lower height after its roof was chopped down, while it also gained in girth with the use of bloated wheel arches.

At the time, Johannes Barckmann, director of the EDAG-design studio, had said this about the Chopster: "Our inspiration for the design of the Chopster was the image of an American football player whose outfit and athleticism stands for enormous strength and assertiveness."

More like Aaron Gibson sat on a Cayenne's top  if you ask us, but yeah, let's just leave it at that.

The odd-looking Swiss made SUV came with a tuned 600hp V8 turbo and had a starting price of €325,000 – and no, we did not add an extra zero in there…

Photos via Rinspeed and Autogespot

Now, the new model is here, and after having been unveiled just yesterday, WhatCar has (somehow already) had some of its readers over to do a collective static review of it – a very swift move on their part.

Getting back to the car, it seems to the been bestowed with the power to impress, because aside from the often-criticized shape of the rear lights, all the interviewees conceded that it's good, likeable and a definite sign of progress over the old model.

Personally, I like its more planted stance, sleeker body and much improved interior style – no more awkward exterior proportions and bland old-fashioned-looking dash design…

The video containing all of the readers' opinions can be found below, after the virtual jump.

By Andrei Nedelea

As if the $75,995 GM was asking for their luxed-up Volt in Cadillac trimmings (before any incentives) wasn't already a bit of a stretch, this edition will cost you a mighty $89,500, which includes a $995 destination charge.

Cadillac says that the car, which sports a hybrid drivetrain pairing a 16.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack to a naturally-aspirated 84hp 1.4-liter gasoline engine that works as a generator and two electric motors with a combined output of 181 hp, will be offered in an exclusive to this edition "White Diamond" exterior paint color and a choice between a Jet Black or Light Cashmere interior.

An upgraded 240-volt charging station with professional installation will come as standard (valued at up to $3,000, according to GM), while owners of the car will have their own ELR Concierge Representatives for improved and personal service.

The Saks Fifth Avenue edition of the ELR will be limited to 100 cars.

Ramming was apparently law enforcement's response, of course, and the Firebird was finally made to beach itself on a patch of grass, pinned between two cop cars. All vehicles involved suffered some kind of damage, but nothing too severe, because no matter what the driver did and why he was running, he was at the wheel of a very cool classic indeed.

He's now behind bars awaiting prosecution.

Had this same chase taken place in Russia, we would have had it featured from at least two different angles – the Dutch use dash-mounted cameras too, but there aren't enough of them cover all the interesting stuff that goes on around its network of roads. As it is now, there are two videos available, as well as a selection of photos courtesy of GinoPress, all showing the aftermath.

By Andrei Nedelea

On Friday, and following the recent launch of the new 2.5-liter inline-five-replacing EA888 1.8-liter turbocharged and direct-injection TSI on the Jetta and Passat 1.8T SEL Premium, VW released pricing for the remainder of the Passat lineup.

The base version of the Passat, the "S", is now fitted with the 170 horsepower (same output as the 2.5-liter unit) 1.8 TSI with pricing set at $20,895,when equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, which is the same as the outgoing 2.5L model.

The Passat Wolfsburg Edition costs $23,965 with a standard six-speed auto ($500 more than the 2.5L), the SE starts at $24,475 (+$530) with the five-speed manual, while the SE with Sunroof costs $26,395 (+$550)and the SE with Sunroof and Navigation has a base price of $27,555 (+$560).

Volkswagen's standard destination charge for the Passat is $820, which is not included in the aforementioned prices.

As you can see for yourself, the cheeky VW staff kept the base model's price, which is the one advertised everywhere, intact, while adding $500 or more on each other trim model over the respective 2.5L version…

The new 1.8L turbo is said to offer better performance (0-60mph in 7.5 seconds or 0.7 seconds faster than the 2.5L with a manual, and 7.9 seconds for the auto, down from 8.7 seconds with the 2.5L engine), as well as improved fuel efficiency (34mpg highway and 24mpg city, up from 31mpg and 22mpg respectively for the 2.5L).

Bentley's reply to Rolls-Royce's Celestial Phantom and Chicane Phantom Coupé one-off models at the Dubai Motor Show is the Mulsanne Shaheen, a vehicle specifically created for the Middle East.

The brand's flagship model is a tribute to the Shaheen eagle, a bird of prey that is embedded in Middle Eastern culture and society. Created by Bentley Mulliner, the special edition model takes inspiration from the colorings of the Shaheen eagle using Tungsten over Onyx paintwork, plus Magnolia and Beluga leather and Dark Stained Burr Walnut Veneer for the interior. The car also includes a bespoke signature Mulsanne Shaheen logo adorned on the rear iPad picnic tables using a gold overlay.

The Mulsanne Shaheen is fitted as standard with the Mulliner Driving Specification, including unique 21-inch alloy wheels, Bentley Flying 'B' wing vents and Diamond Quilted leather trimmed cabin with driver-selectable, sports-tuned suspension and steering.

Further options include a Wi Fi hotspot, a large tilt-opening, tinted glass sunroof and electrically operated bottle cooler. No modifications were made under the bonnet, where the 6.75-liter V12 engine soldiers on. It delivers an impressive 505hp and 1,020 Nm (752 lb-ft) of torque from 1,750 rpm.

The Middle East is the biggest market for the Bentley Mulsanne, with sales up 53 percent so far this year compared to the same period last year.

By Dan Mihalascu

The lucky man in the driver's seat is Russian racing pilot, Alexey Karachev, who took the young women, including representatives from Germany, Poland and Russia, for a fast ride around the Moscow International Raceway in a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. And if you're asking, the answer is no, we can't really blame him for taking his eyes off the road at the 19 second mark...

You can watch their reactions while being tossed around in the AMG's bucket seat in the following video.

Compared to the street-legal Elise S, the S Cup R comes with a bespoke livery and aerodynamic body kit to maximize performance on track. The CFD-proved aero pack includes a front splitter, barge boards, winglets, rear diffuser, floor extensions and rear wing.

The Elise S Cup R also has a motorsport-specific engine control module (ECM), adjustable damper and springs, and a clever manipulation of air-flow to create extra downforce. All these upgrades make the Elise S Cup R 4 seconds faster on a 5-km (3.1-mile) lap over the standard Elise S.

Despite the extra body kit and race-ready additions (roll-cage, fire extinguisher, race seats and more) Lotus Motorsport has managed to maintain the road car's light weight of 924 kg (2,037 lbs).

The car is eligible for entry to the production class in the 2014 Lotus Cup series which include Lotus Cup UK, Lotus Cup Europe, Lotus Cup Italia, Lotus Cup USA, Lotus Cup Japan, Lotus Cup Thailand, Lotus Cup China and Lotus Ladies Cup.

The Lotus Cup is open to all Lotus owners and their Elise, Exige, Evora, 340R and 2-Eleven. The Elise S Cup R has a selection of bespoke color and trim options, courtesy of the Lotus Design team.

By Dan Mihalascu

The price you'll pay for owning the 296bhp (300PS) all-wheel drive Golf R is £29,900 for the three-door model with six-speed manual gearbox, and £31,315 for the three-door with six-speed DSG transmission, while the five-door versions cost £30,555 and £31,970 respectively.

Powering VW's seventh-generation hot hatch is a newly developed version of the four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged EA888 TSI petrol engine borrowed from the latest Golf, but modified to deliver 296bhp (300PS) from 5,500 to 6,200 rpm and 380 Nm (280 lbs ft) from 1,800 to 5,500 rpm. VW says that the changes made to the GTI's unit include a modified cylinder head, exhaust valves, valve seats and springs, pistons, injection valves and turbocharger.

With the manual gearbox, the new Golf R will shoot to 62mph (100km/h) in 5.3 seconds (older model: 5.7 seconds), and with the optional dual-clutch transmission, in even less, at 4.9 seconds, while in both cases, top speed is restricted to 155mph (250km/h).

The Germans quote a combined fuel consumption of 39.8 mpg UK (40.9 mpg DSG), and CO2 emissions of 165 g/km (159 g/km DSG), stating that the new model is up to 18 per cent more efficient than its predecessor.

Notably, as with all Mk7 Golfs, the new R is lighter than the outgoing model, with a kerb weight of 1,476 kg or 3,254 lbs (1,495 kg for DSG), which is 45 kg or 99 lbs (46 kg for DSG) less than the Mk VI, and 94 kg or 207 pounds (93 kg for DSG) more than the GTI with Performance Pack. 

Fundamentally, a pre-production version, the 424hp (430PS) and 500Nm (369 lb-ft) of peak torque six-cylinder coupe model was placed as a background for photo shoots, as BMW is the official partner of the event that was hosted last night (November 7) in Berlin.

The Bavarian firm also had a few M6 Gran Coupes on hand to shuttle service the numerous celebrities participating in the gala. See the cars in the gallery below.

Musk said the high-volume Generation III Tesla could bring the company's annual sales to 500,000 a year, about 25 times its current sales volume. However, the biggest hurdle to hitting that ambitious sales target is the lack of batteries, the CEO said.

"If we are to produce 500,000 vehicles a year... we need cell capacity commensurate, which is bigger than all lithium-ion production today," Musk was quoted as saying by The Wall Street Journal.

To solve that problem, he said Tesla is exploring a lot of different options, including a "giga factory" that would take raw materials and turn them into battery packs. Tesla could build such a plant with partners, and its location would most likely be in North America.

"We're talking about something comparable to all lithium ion production in the world, in one factory," Musk said, adding that raw materials like nickel, cobalt, aluminum and lithium would not be an issue.

He declined to offer a time frame for the plant, but if the project gets the green light, work would have to start pretty soon, given that the launch date for the new Tesla Generation III model is as early as 2016.

By Dan Mihalascu

From the single, low quality photo, we see that the SUV sports a new grille and bumper design combining the bottom half of the F-Sport model's honeycomb grille with the regular model's upper grille.

It also gets LED headlight units with Lexus' I-AFS auto-adaptive system and new seven-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels, plus the choice of either a fixed panoramic roof or an electric sunroof.

Other standard features include Smart Entry and Start; dual-zone climate control; leather upholstery; heated, eight-way adjustable front seats; heated, auto-diming and folding door mirrors, automatic windscreen wipers; rear privacy glass; and an infotainment system with navigation, 12-speaker audio pack, DVD player (single disc) and DAB tuner.

Under the hood, there are no changes with the full hybrid powertrain linking a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine to a pair of electric motors producing a combined output of 295-horses, for zero to 62mph (100km/h) acceleration in less than eight seconds and combined cycle figures of 44.8mpg UK and 145g/km.

Pricing in the UK starts at £48,495.

Well, the answer lies in the video description from YouTube author cvdzijden: "Best carwash in the world? I have filmed the Ferrari LaFerrari in the carwash at the Ferrari factory". Moreover, the wraps on the rear end of the Italian hybrid model suggest that it might be a test prototype.

Still, call us crazy, but we kind of cringe whenever we see any classics, exotics or nicely maintained vehicles use the car wash.

Perhaps the strangest and most saddening part of this video, is the group of young men, possibly Ferrari workers, who walk by without giving a single glimpse at the mid-engine model.

Now, Autocar tells us that it is heading off in a new design direction, but from what we can see and judge by looking at the Sportsvan concept that's supposed to preview it, they've done it again…

It is yet another evolution, rather than revolution, building on the style of design we saw first displayed on the new Golf Mark Seven, but you have to put the two side by side to spot how that evolution took place, and how it may do so in the future.

The quoted report says that cues like the bar in the grille connecting the headlights will stay, while the way in which the body is sculpted will be maintained and chiseled at. The defining feature will be the bar that runs uninterrupted through the grille and headlights.

So, unbeknownst to the large majority of buyers, VW will be adopting this new style throughout its range. We're curious to see what they do with the all-new Scirocco, a model which is due in 2017. However, it is getting facelifted next year, so expect to see it styled along the same lines as the Sportsvan, which itself is a production preview of the next Golf Plus MPV/minivan.

By Andrei Nedelea

The R-Line grade builds on the equipment list of the GT, adding a different front R-Line front grille with round fog lights, R-Line front bumper, R-Line logo in the radiator grille, sill extensions, LED daytime running lights and 18-inch 'Mallory' alloy wheels on the outside, and R-Line multi-function steering wheel and trim on the inside.

The difference in price with the GT is +£650, with prices for the R-Line beginning at £29,505

VW will offer the R-Line with two engines, a 207hp (210PS) 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol and a 175hp (177PS) 2.0-liter turbo diesel BlueMotion Technology which includes battery regeneration and Stop/Start systems. Both powerplants can be had with either a six-speed manual or a dual-clutch DSG gearbox.

One such compilation just went live, and it offers eight minutes and twenty seconds of continuous 'Ring crashing. The clips it's made up of are said to have been exclusively shot in 2013, throughout the year.

They range from soft and amusing to violent and scary, though most are just evidence of overly-zealous cornering attempts that put the car/bike on the grass/in the gravel trap.

Scroll down and check it out after the virtual jump, and behold the sight of driver after driver going in too hot, missing the corner apex and leaving their mark on the side rails.

By Andrei Nedelea

The Stuttgart-based company will be unveiling its most important mainstream model ever, the Macan new compact luxury SUV, together with the new generation 911 Turbo Cabriolet and Turbo S Cabriolet at the LA Auto Show.

Dubbed as the fastest, most powerful and most luxurious models in the Panamera range, the facelifted 2014 Panamera Turbo S in both regular and extended wheelbase lengths with 562hp (570PS) will be introduced in front of a crowd for the first time at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Last, but certainly not least, Porsche's new crown jewel, the 875-bhp 918 Spyder, will make its North American premiere in LA and its China debut in Guangzhou.

Thanks to its AMG 6.0-liter V12 biturbo engine, the S 65 AMG sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds and reaches an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). The acceleration time is improved by 0.1 seconds over the previous generation S 65 AMG, thanks to the slightly increased output (+9hp).

That's pretty impressive for a sedan that tips the scales at above 2 tons (4,409lbs), and fuel economy is not as poor as one would expect: the S 65 AMG averages 11.9 l/100 km (19.8 mph US) – 2.4 l/100 km less than the previous model. That is mainly due to the fact that the EU 6-compliant engine gets a new 7-speed AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox with a wide ratio spread that guarantees a noticeably lower engine speed level than the previous AMG Speedshift five-speed automatic transmission. Furthermore, the S 65 AMG is fitted as standard with an Eco start/stop function.

Visually, the 2014 Mercedes S 65 AMG plays the same understated card as the S 63 AMG and sports the same bodykit. However, it is a little more blingy thanks to the high-gloss chrome splitter, grilles and air deflectors on the side air intakes, and the dedicated V12 radiator grille with six twin louvres in high-gloss chrome. Also in high-gloss chrome are the inserts in the side sill panels and the trim of the high-gloss black rear diffuser insert. The AMG sports exhaust system with its two chrome-plated, separate twin tailpipes and the "V12 BITURBO" lettering on the front fenders round out the exterior modifications.

Naturally, as the most expensive Mercedes S-Class model (it starts from €232,050 in Germany), the S 65 AMG features everything the brand has to offer in terms of technology and luxury, including Magic Body Control with Road Surface Scan, the head-up display and the touchpad, which makes it easier to operate radio, telephone and navigation system. However, Mercedes-Benz will charge extra for AMG ceramic brakes.

Available exclusively with a long wheelbase, the new S 65 AMG will premiere simultaneously at the Los Angeles International Auto Show and at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month. Deliveries will begin in March 2014.

By Dan Mihalascu