Dodge Circuit-EV,Possibly in 2010!

With all of the recent upheaval at Chrysler, it's no surprise that the fate of the very cool Dodge Circuit is not exactly certain. In May, Chrysler assured everyone that the program was not DOA, and Chrylser ENVI president Lou Rhodes recently said something similar to Car and Driver. Rhodes even gave C&D a few details about how the program is shaping up.

Chrysler's plan involves having the vehicle produced by Lotus in the UK (sounds familiar) and then shipped to the U.S. for the electric powertrain. Chrysler's sales target is 100,000 EVs in order to benefit from economies of scale for all the expensive EV bits. By selling that many vehicles, Chrysler's efforts could make the Circuit "tens of thousands" of dollars less than the somewhat similar Tesla Roadster. The Circuit is still likely to be Chrysler's first EV, and could start production next year.

Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport

Production of the Veyron Grand Sport, Bugatti's roadster version of the ultimate super car, is just getting underway at the automaker's factory in Molsheim, France. Accordingly, Bugatti has released a batch of new high-res pics that were taken last year in such places as Napa Valley (hence the wine reference), Rome and Sardinia when the car debuted. Now, keep in mind, you don't just take a Sawzall to a Veyron's roof and get a Grand Sport. The GS gets a higher windscreen, daytime running lights and a transparent polycarbonate roof panel or umbrella-like soft top. There's also enough extra bracing beneath the carbon fiber skin to survive a black hole, and the two large air intakes above the engine are now reinforced to act as rollover bars.

The Veyron GS can go nearly 253 mph with its roof panel on, almost as fast as the straight coupe. Sans roof panel it can still hit almost 224 mph, and the soft top brings things down a top speed of just 99 mph. Only 150 units will be made, which means the 1.4 million euro Veyron Grand Sport is an ultra exclusive version of an already ultra exclusive car. Deliveries start in July and 30 have already ordered.

2010 Porsche 911 GT3

The 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 is unquestionably bad-ass. Its naturally aspirated 3.8-liter flat-six provides 435 hp from behind the driver's seat, and its track-tuned chassis can dance with the world's most nimble supercars. The free-wheeling product of Stuttgart has been undergoing testing at the famed Nurburgring in Germany (along with every other sports coupe worth its salt) and it's been timed at an unofficial 7:40. Porsche driving ace Walter Rohrl was behind the wheel for the sprightly lap.

While 7:40 isn't enough time to best the 7:26 from the 638 hp Corvette ZR1, it's a very impressive time nonetheless (BTW - During testing Rohrl posted a 7:45 in a borrowed Ferrari F430 Scuderia). Nissan probably isn't impressed, though, since it recently clocked the GT-R at 7:27. Well, Porsche is still calling balderdash on that claim, telling Motor Trend that the twin-turbo Nissan is only good for a time of 7:56 in stock US form. Just under eight minutes is an amazing time, but almost 30 seconds slower than reports from Nissan.

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Following the successful launch of its Genesis sedan, Korean automaker Hyundai rolled out a two-door version of the car, aptly named Genesis Coupe.The car first debuted in pre-production form at the 2008 New York International Auto Show, and later was unveiled in production guise at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show.

Hyundai stuck to its promise of aggressive pricing, making the V6 model of the car the least expensive 300 horsepower coupe in the world.

The four-cylinder model has a starting price of just $22,000. That will buy you the most basic configuration, equipped with a 210-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. If you're looking for some more power, you'll have to pony up $25,000 for the the 306-horsepower, 3.8-liter, V6 engine model.

The basic $22,000 version comes standard with a six-speed manual. For customers looking for added comfort or ease of operation, a five-speed Siftronic automatic with manual mode is $23,250. The 2.0T model comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, 12.6-inch disc brakes, a front strut brace, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, steering wheel audio controls, power windows, AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3, air conditioning, projector beam headlamps, trip computer, cruise control, Bluetooth, iPod connectivity, active head restraints, front/side/curtain airbags, ABS, and electronic stability control.

A "Premium" variant of the 2.0T model is also available, coming in at $24,250 for the manual variant and $25,500 for the Siftronic automatic. The Premium edition gains a power driver's seat, 360-watt Infinity audio with 10 speakers, push-button start, auto-dimming mirrors, a tilt-and-slide power sunroof, and navigation system.

Available for $26,750, with a six-speed manual only, is the 2.0T "Track" model. It includes 19-inch gunmetal-finish alloy wheels, Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tires, Brembo brakes with 13.4-inch discs and four-piston red calipers, a Torsen-type limited-slip differential, blacl leather bolster seats with high-friction cloth insert, aluminum pedals, a rear spoiler, Xenon HID headlights, fog lamps, a lightweight aluminum spare, and navigation system.

Unique to the Coupe lineup is the R-Spec model, which Hyundai considers a clean slate for tuners. Priced at $23,750, it is $3,000 less than the 2.0T Track model, leaving tuners with extra cash for their own choice of aftermarket performance upgrades. It has all the same mechanical upgrades as the Track model, but lacks the premium leather seats, Xenon lights, and navigation.

The V6 model comes standard with a leather interior -- a unique selling point for a $25,000 vehicle. Other highlights of the base model include fog lights, chrome fascia accents, and premium door sill plates. A six-speed manual is standard, while upgrading to the Siftronic pushes the price to $26,500.

A "Grand Touring" V6 package is available for $27,500 with the manual transmission, or $29,000 with the Siftronic. This trim level adds a 360-watt Infinity premium audio system with 10 speakers and a subwoofer, Xenon HID lamps, auto-dimming mirrors, navigation system, reverse warning system, heated side mirrors, push-button start, a tilt-and-slide power sunroof, and heated seats.

Lastly, the "Track" V6 model comes with 19-inch gunmetal finish alloy wheels, Brembo brakes with 13.4-inch rotors and four-piston brakes, track-tuned suspension, and Torsen-type limited-slip differential. Unlike the 2.0T, the Track model is available with a Shiftronic automatic, in addition to a regular manual. Pricing is $29,500 for the manual, and $31,000 for the automatic.

New Chevrolet Corvette GT1 Championship Edition

Back in February, General Motors circulated a few studio shots of a new Chevrolet Corvette GT1 Championship Edition package, but the New York Auto Show is the first time we're coming face-to-face with just such an animal.

Built up from a standard 4LT coupe or convertible, the GT1 CE is essentially a trim-and-tape tribute package designed to celebrate the C6.R's racing successes. As such, it features a graphics package influenced by the racecar's livery, including the skull 'Jake' logo, driver flags, a windshield banner, and so on. There's also a ZR1 'style' rear spoiler and chrome wheels to complete the package, although unfortunately no drivetrain bits from the King Corvette will make the scene.

Inside, as you can see in our photographs below, the ebony interior has been done up in yellow stitching, and there's special GT1 embroidery adorning the instrument panel, center console armrest, and seats.

As Chevrolet has plans to build just 600 of these limited-edition models, this could well be the closest any of us ever get to driving one.

Scion IQ Concept

It is here and it is scary - looking. Scion has taken the wraps off of its iQ concept giving us the biggest hint that Toyota’s globally successful minicar will come to the U.S. badged as a Scion. The best part is that Scion is pitching the vehicle as its very own creation and not as a rebadged Toyota iQ.

The New Tesla Model S sedan,cheaper than the roadster

With a promised price tag of less than $50,000 (after a $7,500 federal tax credit), the new Tesla Model S sedan is certainly a good deal cheaper than Tesla's pricey roadster, not to mention its competitors, but according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, it's actually quite a bargain compared to your run-of-the-mill sedan as well. As Musk tells it, 'the ownership cost of Model S, if you were to lease and then account for the much lower cost of electricity versus gasoline at a likely future cost of $4 per gallon, is similar to a gasoline car with a sticker price of about $35,000.' Musk further adds that the Model S would still be a bargain 'even if gasoline were $1 per gallon,' saying that it costs just $5 to drive 230 miles. Of course, all of that assumes that you'll actually be able to get your hands on the car one of these days, but Musk seems confident that'll happen as well, saying that the company is 'close' to receiving $350 million in loans from the U.S. Department of Energy, which would be used to build the plant in California that would manufacture the Model S.

Mercedes-Benz's F-Cell Roadster

Mercedes-Benz has been toying with alternative-energy prototype vehicles for awhile now, but we're fairly certain this little gem is amongst the most bodacious. The obviously conceptual F-CELL Roadster hearkens back to M-B vehicles of old, though the engine is far from retro. Controlled with drive-by-wire technology and utilizing a joystick rather than a conventional steering wheel, this whip is (theoretically, at least) powered by a 1.2kW emission-free fuel cell system located at the rear. We're told that it could reach an enviable top speed of 15.5mph, and the 217 mile operating range definitely has us salivating. Frankly, this one's all about the design.

2010 Chevy Camaro Will Get Decent Mpg

Now that the 2010 Chevy Camaro is finally ready to hit dealerships, details like the car's official EPA estimated fuel mileage and its estimated run to 60 mph are beginning to hit the interwebs. Good news: Both are impressive. According to The General, the 304-horsepower direct-injected 3.6-liter V6 engine that's standard in the LT and LS models will achieve 29 miles per gallon on the highway and 18 mpg in the city with the six-speed automatic, or 17 mpg with the six-speed stick. V8 models also perform more efficiently than expected, with figures of 16 city and 25 highway (24 with the automatic transmission).

Those numbers are better than what the Camaro's muscle car competition can muster across the board. Its eco-victory likely won't last long, however, as the new 2010 Ford Mustang offers carryover engines from the last model year that we expect will be replaced for the 2011 model year with more efficient powertrains, maybe even a twin-turbo, direct-inject EcoBoost V6.

Possible Future Cadillac!

GM is beating on the drums -- softly, to be sure -- and the message they're sending is that the Cadillac Converj Concept could see production. The first issue with building such a car is money, and GM's problems in that arena are already well-documented. If that hurdle were to be cleared, GM has said that the next question is the number of doors: two or four?

A four-door car has a much better chance at the kind of volume GM would need in order to make the Converj a worthy proposition and Lutz apparently said that a production Converj would be as close to the concept as the production Camaro. If GM adds an extra set of doors while maintaining the go-fast profile, it would still have a car that could drive straight into a buyer's heart.

But how much would it cost? The Volt -- under the mass-market Chevy brand -- is expected to run about $40,000 when it arrives. Add in the brand premium and the requisite luxury accoutrements, and when it's tallied up, a theoretical Cadillac version is likely to wear a substantially higher sticker price. Would buyers be ready to embrace it?