Toyota Adds New Edition and Trend Versions to UK Yaris Range

Toyota is expanding its Yaris hatchback range in Britain with the presentation of two new models named 'Edition' and 'Trend'.

A common theme between the Yaris Edition and Trend models are the blacked-out C-pillars and smoked rear windows that contrast with the available Tyrol Silver or Cirrus White paintwork to create what the company describes as "a floating roof effect".

From there on, the Yaris Edition is based on the entry-level T2 grade adding series of sporty features such as the 15-inch Podium anthracite machined alloy wheels, front fog lamps, extra chrome exterior trim at the rear end of the car, a tachometer and a leather-trimmed gear knob.

Moving on to the other new model, the Edition is powered by Toyota's 1.0-liter petrol engine linked to a five-speed manual and is available in both three- and five-door body styles with prices starting at £11,695.

The Yaris Trend is built on the sportier SR trim level with additional features including 16-inch Podium alloys and chrome tailpipe trim. Power comes from a 1.33-liter petrol unit offered with a choice of six-speed manual or, in the five-door version, Toyota’s Multidrive S CVT automatic. On-the-road prices for the Trend start at £13,795.

Both models are available for order now.

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Edmunds gets Chauffeured in the New Aston Martin Vanquish

After giving EVO magazine a ride in the new Vanquish in the frozen north of Sweden, Aston Martin engineers invited Edmunds Insideline to take a seat on the passenger side of a pre-production model at Spain's Sierra Nevada, which is Europe's version of the Death Valley in California.

The short video shows Aston Martin engineering manager Paul Thomas flog the new V12 powered Vanquish around a few corners on the picturesque mountainside.

The 2013 Vanquish replaces the DBS in the British brand's line up and for the time being at least, it is only available in coupe guise.

It is based on an update of the DBS's bonded-aluminum underpinnings with power coming from a Cosworth-designed 5.9-litre V12 engine tweaked to deliver 565hp (573PS) and 620Nm (457 lb-ft) of torque.

Aston Martin claims a 0-100km/h (62mph) acceleration of 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 295km/h (183mph).

The video of the Vanquish ride follows right below the jump.

VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xtOAEP2dnzo

Spy Shots: Think You Can Help us Identify this Mystery Sedan Model?

One of our associates stumbled upon a group of identical looking prototype sedans at the German Port of Hamburg on the river Elbe, and was able to snap several pictures of the parked cars.

The problem is that neither our spy photographer nor we were able to pinpoint with certainty the brand, let alone, the model of the car seen here.

Maybe it was because we ended up concentrating our thoughts on Chinese nameplates from BAIC to SAIC and everything in between, and missed out on a detail that could lead to an answer.

All test cars were dressed in a chequered-theme wrap with no evident logos and featured unfinished headlamps and fake taillights. We'd say that said model is a probably a C-segment saloon - think Skoda Octavia or Chevrolet Cruze, though we could be wrong.

If you hop over the break, you will find a full gallery of pictures of the mystery sedan. Once you check them out, head to the comments section to tell us what you think it is.

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Suzuki Previews New Wagon R Mini ENE-Charge with a Mild-Hybrid System

As part of a presentation today in Japan, Suzuki previewed its new Wagon R tall mini that will benefit from the addition of a new mild-hybrid system named "ENE-CHARGE" (short for 'energy charge') and an energy-saving electric air conditioning system dubbed "ECO-COOL"

The Wagon R with ENE-CHARGE and ECO-COOL is scheduled to go on sale in Japan this September.

From what we were able to translate, the mild-hybrid system features a small displacement internal combustion engine equipped with an electric motor/generator and a lithium-ion battery.

The system employs regenerative braking and at least some level of power assist to the internal combustion engine while it can also run certain electrical equipment.

Suzuki said that it expects the car to return up to 28.8km/lt in Japan's JC08 driving cycle (67.8mpg US, 3.5lt/100km or 81.4mpg UK).

More details – hopefully in English as well – are to be released in the coming weeks.

Thanks to i-Ryuji for the tip and the screen shots!

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Audi to Debut Digital Rearview Mirror on Production R8 e-tron

In contrast to the regular R8 Coupe, the upcoming production version of the all-electric R8 e-tron has no rear window and therefore no conventional rear-view mirror. To solve this problem, Audi engineers had to put on their thinking caps and come up with a useable alternative.

The solution came in the form of a digital rear-view mirror that works together with a camera and was based on a tried and tested system employed on the brand's current Le Mans racing cars.

The system includes a 7.7-inch AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) display that is shaped and positioned after a conventional rear-view mirror and which was developed in partnership with Samsung.

According to Audi, the organic materials used in the display are self-illuminating at a low voltage and do not require backlighting, while the screen is more energy-efficient, thinner, and lighter than conventional LCD monitors.

When the night falls or when the car is passing through a tunnel for example, an intelligent control system prevents dazzle from the headlights of other vehicles, with the driver being able to dim or deactivate the display at any time.

The display receives a live video feed from a small and lightweight camera positioned in an aerodynamically optimized and heated in cold temperatures housing right below the third stop light on the roof.

Audi says that the camera uses a lens with a diameter of just a few millimeters and covers a much larger field of vision than a conventional rear-view mirror.

The production R8 e-tron will most likely make its world premiere at this September's Paris Motor Show and go on sale in a limited number of units next year.

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Jeep to Stop Building Liberty / Cherokee at Toledo Next Week

It's the end of the line for the current generation of the Jeep Liberty, also known as the Cherokee in overseas markets, as according to a report from Reuters, the Chrysler Group will stop manufacturing the SUV at its Toledo North Assembly Plant next Thursday, August 16.

However, as the current Liberty comes to an end, Jeep will give birth to another model with the Chrysler Group to begin preparing the Toledo facility for its production.

Last year, Chrysler said that it would invest US$1.7 billion (€1.4 billion), add a second shift and hire more than 1,000 workers in Toledo to develop and produce the Liberty's replacement that will be based on a new Fiat Group platform.

More specifically, the SUV will use a derivative of the Fiat-Chrysler Alliance's Compact U.S. Wide (CUSW) platform that underpins the 2013 Dodge Dart and which itself is sourced from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

The same platform will also base the next generation of the Chrysler 200 sedan and coupe models.

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