Future products: BMW focuses on small crossovers, new EV subbrand:

By DIANA T. KURYLKO, AUTOMOTIVE NEWS The redesigned BMW X3 will be about three inches longer than the current X3, or nearly as large as the original X5. The X3 debuts early next year.

Suzuki delays U.S. launch of the Swift:

By RYAN BEENE, AUTOMOTIVE NEWS The redesigned Suzuki Swift will be at the Paris motor show in October. Suzuki has delayed the relaunch of its Swift small car in the United States until next year while it works on a global product strategy with Volkswagen AG and ponders the growing strength of the yen against the dollar

Sky takes Mazda powertrains to the next level:

By ROGER HART A Mazda 6 test mule with the high-compression Sky-G four-cylinder gasoline engine gets 18 percent better fuel economy than the sedan with Mazda’s current four-cylinder engine. Mazda’s next-generation of powertrains, called Sky, will feature a variety of new technologies that company engineers say improve fuel efficiency by 20 percent

Future products: Mercedes-Benz plans B-class coupe, crossover, sedan:

By DIANA T. KURYLKO, AUTOMOTIVE NEWS The restyled and re-engineered Mercedes-Benz CLS debuts at the Paris motor show next month and goes on sale here in 2011

Future products: GMC looks beyond trucks to compact car:

By CHRISSIE THOMPSON, AUTOMOTIVE NEWS A production vehicle based on the GMC Granite concept, shown, is likely in 2013.

Future products: Styling, fuel economy top the agenda at Chevrolet:

By CHRISSIE THOMPSON, AUTOMOTIVE NEWS Chevrolet launches the Cruze sedan this fall. It eventually will replace the Cobalt in Chevy’s lineup. Chevrolet’s quest for more vehicles that match the styling appeal of the Equinox crossover and Camaro muscle car will continue in the next several years

Volkswagen details plans for hybrids and EVs :

By IZZI BENDALL The new Volkswagen Jetta will get a hybrid version in 2011. Volkswagen Additional Resources Article Honda to launch plug-in hybrid and electric car in 2012, Civic gets lithium-ion power Volkswagen is getting serious about hybrids and electric vehicles, and CEO Martin Winterkorn said they will account for three percent of VW’s global sales by 2018, according to a Bloomberg report.Underlining this, Winterkorn said the Up city car or Golf compact will be introduced as an all-electric vehicle in the United States by 2013.“Our goal is clear and ambitious,” said Winterkorn, who is in the United States to test-drive the new Jetta in California.

Honda to launch plug-in hybrid and electric car in 2012, Civic gets lithium-ion power:

By GREG MIGLIORE The next Honda Cicivc hybrid will get a lithium-ion battery in 2011. Honda Additional Resources Article Volkswagen details plans for hybrids and EVs Honda’s lineup of hybrids and electric cars is about to grow significantly

Acura says RL sedan won’t be dropped:

By DALE JEWETT Acura has sold only 872 RLs within the first six months of this year. UPDATED — Is Honda ready to kill off the slow-selling Acura RL sedan?Honda officials in the United States say no. But a report in Japan’s Nikkei business daily newspaper says Honda is ready to stop selling the Honda Legend in its home market

Subaru seeks to dump ‘quirky,’ broaden appeal:

By HANS GREIMEL, AUTOMOTIVE NEWS Osamu Namba’s goal for Subaru: “Broaden the appeal to make it accessible to more than a small, loyal crowd.” HANS GREIMEL When Subaru arrived in the United States in the 1960s, ads used the unflattering slogan “cheap and ugly.”The brand has come a long way. But to critics, the concept of “Subaru styling” is still an oxymoron

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