Although the new Pathfinder Hybrid has yet to hit showrooms, Nissan already has hybrid versions of its smaller crossovers, the Murano and the Rogue, in the pipeline. This is according to a recent Nissan presentation given by Carla Bailo, Nissan senior vice president of research and development.

It’s about time, too, as both vehicles were last redesigned in 2008. The new Murano and Rogue models will likely be unveiled sometime in the next six months and go on sale in early 2014 as 2015 models, according to a Green Car Reports story. Following the Pathfinder example, however, hybrid versions won’t likely follow for another year.

What might the new crossovers look like? If the recent Resonance concept, which debuted last January, is any indication of the design elements of the future Murano, it should be very good looking indeed.

The 2.5-liter supercharged four-cylinder and single-motor hybrid system of the Pathfinder might be better suited to the smaller Murano and Rogue models. In this application, the Nissan hybrid could very well offer further improvements in fuel economy over the regular gasoline only variants.

As global vehicle emissions and fuel-efficiency requirements become more stringent both at home and abroad, automakers are forced to become cleverer and further diversify their powertrain offerings. Jaguar is no different.

Recently, Jaguar revealed its C-X75 prototype powered by a 1.6-liter turbo and supercharged four-cylinder that could rev over 10,000 RPM. Together with two electric motors, the C-X75 produced more than 850 horsepower. Although Jaguar has subsequently canceled the C-X75 project, the lessons it learned from the high-performance hybrid will affect future offerings from the British brand.

“We are not wedded to V8s. Can Jaguar exist without a V8?” asked Steven de Ploey, Jaguar’s product and marketing director, in a recent Drive interview. “The answer is yes, but is it our intention at this stage to eliminate the V8 from our engine palette?”

Jaguar has begun the eventual phasing out of normally aspirated V8s by replacing them with supercharged V6 engines. This trend, too, could be short-lived. Although Jaguar loves the virtual instantaneous power created by supercharging, it doesn’t love the fact that superchargers aren’t as controllable as turbos.

“We are not wedded to supercharging as the defining technology to deliver performance. What we are wedded to is intelligent performance; today that is delivered through superchargers but tomorrow that could be anything,” Ploey added.

Although a V8 drop could be more than a decade away, expect smaller displacement, forced induction engines replace larger engines in the Jaguar lineup over the next few years.

Ferrari is a very profitable automaker and, not surprisingly, wants to keep making more money. And what does the Italian supercar maker see as its next golden ticket? Hybrids. A lot more hybrids.

All 499 examples of the brand’s $1.34 million hybrid supercar, the LaFerrari, sold out before it was even unveiled. So pleased with the results, Ferrari plans to continue down the high-performance hybrid path, as it wants to attract eco-friendly millionaires and billionaires to the brand.

The LaFerrari, powered by a V-12 and two electric motors, produces more horsepower than any other Ferrari to-date but with 40 percent of the fuel consumption.

“I want to have different Ferraris for different Ferraristi,” said Ferrari Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo in a Bloomberg Television interview. “We have a lot of parallel activities that can increase revenues without being obliged to produce more cars.”

Although the Italian automaker sees hybrids commanding a strong role in its high-performance future, it doesn’t see all-electric cars coming into play. “I don’t believe in the electric cars, but I strongly believe in hybrids,” Montezemolo added. So if you were hoping for a Tesla v. Ferrari EV showdown sometime in the future, you’re out of luck.

While Tesla might be going it alone in the performance EV world, IHS Automotive estimates that by 2016 high-end hybrid car sales will increase nearly tenfold from the 5,938 sold last year to a whopping 56,364. So it would seem Ferrari isn’t alone in its hybridized profit scheme.

Mercedes-Benz and AMG are putting the finishing touches on the 2015 GLA 45 AMG, the performance-focused variant of the new GLA-Class crossover.

The AMG-tuned crossover will stand out from the regular GLA thanks to muscular bumpers front and back, a discreet spoiler mounted above the rear window and a noticeably lower ride height.  A model-specific grille, large alloy wheels and “TURBO AMG” emblems on both fenders will complete the look.

Inside, the GLA 45 AMG will boast sports seats with red seatbelts, carbon fiber trim on the dash, a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel and a timer incorporated into the instrument cluster. �

Like the CLA 45 and the Europe-only A 45, the GLA 45 will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 360 horsepower and 332 lb-ft. of torque.  Hand-built, the mill will transmit power to all four wheels via a dual-clutch seven-speed transmission and a purpose-built version of Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel drive system.

The crossover will be able to sprint from zero to 62 mph in about 4.6 seconds.  Top speed will be electronically limited to 155 mph.

Mercedes-Benz has not announced when the GLA 45 AMG will debut, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see it in the flesh for the first time at the Los Angeles Motor Show that will open its doors next November.  It will land in showrooms across the United States in the first half of next year as a 2015 model.

Just earlier this week, Tesla received praise when it released a statement bragging that its Model S received a 5.4-Star crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Turns out, however, it didn’t.

Here’s what the Tesla release said: “NHTSA does not publish a star rating above 5, however safety levels better than 5 stars are captured in the overall Vehicle Safety Score (VSS) provided to manufacturers, where the Model S achieved a new combined record of 5.4 stars.”

Here’s what the NHTSA said in response on its website: “NHTSA does not rate vehicles beyond 5 stars and does not rank or order vehicles within the star rating categories. In addition, the agency has guidelines in place for manufacturers and advertising agencies to follow to ensure that accurate and consistent information is conveyed to the public.”

Essentially, this is the NHTSA’s polite way of reminding Tesla that it A.) Didn’t get a 5.4 rating and B.) Should review the NHTSA guidelines surrounding the citing of its ratings.

Clearly, receiving 5 Stars and breaking some of the testing equipment wasn’t enough for Tesla, it had to go ahead and publish a 5.4-Star rating

Cadillac has a highly anticipated engine on its hands: the twin-turbo 3.6-liter V-6. And the engine – rated at 410 to 420 horsepower depending on its application – is beginning to find its way into the hands of automotive journalists under the hood of the XTS4 where it should bring some much-needed oomph. Along with the full-size XTS, the new V-6 will also be used to power the 2014 CTS Vsport.

Rumor has it, though, Cadillac isn’t limiting the turbo six to the big-bodied models. According to a Car and Driver report, Cadillac will also be bolting the high-test V-6 between the frame rails of the yet unannounced ATS-V where it will produce 420 horsepower 430 pound-feet of torque.

The ATS was designed with lightness at its core with extensive use of lightweight and robust materials throughout. The use of a turbo V-6 instead of a V-8 for the ATS-V is keeping with that weight saving mantra.

Many had derided Cadillac for not offering a manual transmission option in the top-end ATS V-6. Apparently, those concerns were heard as the twin-turbo ATS-V will be offered with a manual as well as the standard six-speed automatic.

Cadillac used to be synonymous with V-8s. Now with the widened application of the twin-turbo V-6 as well as the twin-turbo revealed under the hood of the Elmiraj concept, Caddy could quickly become the brand of luxury forced induction performance.

Toyota has confirmed it is considering launching a more powerful variant of the Scion FR-S equipped with a larger engine.

“I hope to make an engine upgrade at least one time with this car,” admitted FR-S chief engineer Tetsuya Tada in an interview with Australia’s Drive magazine.   “We have already tried all of the possibilities and there are several [FR-S] prototypes at the Toyota proving ground now: One is equipped with a turbocharger, one has a bigger displacement engine and the last one boasts a special hybrid system.  All of the possibilities are being considered.”

Tada declined to provide technical details, but rumors suggest the larger engine would take the form of a 2.5-liter flat-four that would generate about 254 horsepower, a 54-pony increase over the 2.0-liter flat-four currently found in the engine bay of the FR-S.

If Toyota picks the hybrid route, the gasoline-electric drivetrain will be considerably simpler and cheaper to produce than the one found under the skin of the Prius in order to keep the coupe’s price within Toyota’s target bracket and avoid adding too much weight.

Finally, the forced induction option would likely require the smallest investment because Toyota partner Subaru already fits certain Forester models with a turbocharged variant of the flat-four rated at 250 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque.

The more potent version of the FR-S will arrive when the model gets a mid-cycle upgrade in two or three years.  Whether it will be sold alongside the 200-horsepower model or replace it is not known. �