Toyota is hard at work on its first production hydrogen fuel cell EV, a model the automaker’s chairman said will hit the market at some point in 2015.

Speaking to reporters at the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada confirmed “that we will sell the feul cell vehicle in the year 2015… in order not to waste the investments that the infrastructure companies will make, it is our role that we keep this promise on introducing it to the market in the time that we promised.”

Toyota’s entry will arrive right about the time Honda begins reinvesting in its efforts with a second-generation fuel cell vehicle based on its FCX Clarity.�

The hydrogen-powered vehicle – expected to take the shape of a sedan – will list for around $50,000 in the United States. Conceptually, it won’t diverge far from the Toyota FCV-R show car that debuted in Tokyo almost two years ago. The R in the car’s name denotes “reality,” not performance. 

Just 10 hydrogen fueling stations in the U.S. are open to the public, nearly all of which are in Southern California. That’s where Honda and Mercedes-Benz have run their FCX Clarity and F-Cell pilot programs. 

However, just a few days ago, California governor Jerry Brown signed into law legislation that will see vehicle registration fees used to construction at least 100 additional hydrogen fueling stations over the next decade. <![CDATA[
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Mitsubishi’s new 74-horsepower subcompact hatchback won’t be a common sight on American roads, the Japanese automaker says.

With sales expectations of just 7,000 units annually, the low volume and low profit margin Mirage will hardly be Mitsubishi’s savior in the U.S., a market where Mitsubishi sells about a tenth as many cars now as it did a decade ago.

By comparison, Nissan and Chevrolet each sold more Versas and Sonics last month than Mitsubishi intends to sell Mirages in an entire calendar year.�

Mitsubishi decided to market the Mirage based on feedback from its dealer body, which sought a less expensive car to lure buyers into showrooms. The Mirage reprises a retired nameplate in North America, although the new car set to hit the market later this year is quite a bit smaller than its predecessor. 

In fact, the Mirage fills a void in the American market. Stretching about 149 inches from head to toe, it’s about a foot shorter than most other compact cars. And, with just 74 ponies, the Mirage is also considerably less powerful. But Mitsubishi is banking on buyers being intrigued both by the Mirage’s low price – $12,995 to start – and its industry-leading 44 mpg highway rating. 

The 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage hits dealers next month.<![CDATA[
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Just weeks after our spy photographers nabbed Mercedes-Benz’ upcoming 2015 C-Class in the buff, a new report has shed light on just what to expect under the new luxury sedan’s hood.

Like the facelifted E-Class, the 2015 C-Class will benefit from the new option of a 2.1-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder with 195 horsepower and 369-lb-ft of torque, according to a Car and Driver report. Rated at 45 mpg highway in the larger, heavier E-Class, expect the mill to return even loftier figures in the C-Class.

Other available engine will include a turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder with 210 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, as well as a V6 that will serve as the top non-AMG motor. While specifics of the latter motor have yet to be confirmed, it will likely either be a variant of the existing 3.5-liter V6 or the new twin-turbo 3.0-liter from next year’s E400.

A seven-speed automatic will serve as the dancing partner for all three engines at launch, but it will eventually be replaced by Mercedes’ nine-speed auto. Each powertrain will be offered with all-wheel-drive in place of the standard rear-wheel-drive setup.

Sadly, the manual transmission in the spy photos will almost certainly not be offered in the U.S.

The 2015 C-Class sedan, which will be assembled in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will greet the public for the first time at the 2014 Detroit show, with the convertible expected to debut later in 2014.

Spy Photos

The 2015 C-Class has been spotted before, but the four-door was sporting heavy camouflage. However, our spy photographers managed to sneak behind enemy lines and snap a few shots of the C-Class in the buff.

In the absence of thick body cladding, it’s clear than the next C-Class will adopt the sculpted body lines that debuted on the 2014 S-Class flagship. Codenamed “W205”, the 2015 C-Class’s exterior design will be highlight by a long hood and a short deck lid.

In addition to the exterior shots, our spies were also able to snag a lone picture of the C-Class’ interior. Although still masked, it’s clear that Mercedes’ 3-Series rival will feature an evolution of the automaker’s current interior design language.

Base versions of the 2015 C-Class will use a turbocharged four-cylinder while up-level models will employ a large V6. Diesel and hybrid versions of the C-Class are also planned. And, of course, the range wouldn’t be complete without a fire-breathing C63 AMG model.

The C-Class will use either an eight- or nine-speed automatic transmission.

Look for the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class to make its world debut during the upcoming auto show season.

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As the armed forces of the United States begin to wind down operations across the Middle East, surplus – and sometimes unused – military-grade vehicles are finding their way into municipalities across the country.

Most recently, the Sheriff’s department in Dallas County, Texas, was given what the military refers to as a $600,000-valued Mine-Resistance Ambush Protected (MRAP) Tactical Vehicle. The Dallas sheriff’s office was financially responsible, according to a county memo, only for “transporting, fuel, painting and registration.” 

Built in 2007, the MRAP was not used in combat, although its run flat tires and mine resistant armor indicate its intended purpose. The vehicle, according to the Dallas Observer, was picked up at Fort Hood in Central Texas.�

The Dallas Sheriff’s office says that the vehicle will be used to execute warrants and that it will “provide an overall safety arch.” Although Dallas County is large and urban, its crime rate is relatively low and Leftlane could find no evidence of land mines ever being a problem. 

But Dallas’ sheriff’s office is one of a growing number of cities to have received a decomissioned MRAP tactical vehicle for law enforcement use. In August, reports of MRAPs being placed into law enforcement agency use surfaced in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and on the campus of Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.<![CDATA[
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Ford will soon begin mailing “goodwill payment” checks to approximately 32,000 C-Max Hybrid drivers as appeasement for a downgrading of the model’s fuel economy estimates.

On August 15, Ford announced that the C-Max Hybrid’s city/highway combined fuel economy rating would be adjusted from 47 to 43 mpg. At the time Ford cited EPA testing procedures that allowed the C-Max Hybrid to be certified under the Ford Fusion Hybrid’s results due to the two models being grouped in the same “family.”

Upon announcing the downgrade, Ford dealers upgraded all existing C-Max Hybrids’ engine management software to compensate for the discrepancy, and all units built after July 2013 will have those upgrades from the factory. Further, engineering changes to the C-Max Hybrid’s aerodynamics and a lower-friction motor oil specification will help boost fuel economy ratings for 2014 models set to go on sale in December.

Those leasing the C-Max Hybrid will receive $325 while outright owners will receive $550. According to Automotive News, all checks will be enclosed with a letter from Ford marketing manager CJ O’Donnell explaining the reasons for the mileage adjustment and a statement of thanks for purchasing the model. Delivery of the checks are slated for this month.

The Ford Fusion Hybrid’s EPA rating will remain at 47 mpg.<![CDATA[
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BMW has announced a voluntary recall of 76,190 2012-14 cars over fears of a possible loss of power braking. Units affected include 3-Series, 5-Series, X1, X3, and Z4 models  built between May 2012 and August 2013 and equipped with the N20 or N26 turbo four-cylinder motors.

According to the recall bulletin on F30post, the issue stems from a potential restriction of oil supply from the intake camshaft to the vacuum pump. If that pump were to fail, the driver would experience a sudden loss of power braking assist. Applying normal pressure to the brake pedal would then result in vastly increased braking distances.

BMW is already aware of three accidents due to this problem, all on low-mileage cars. Additionally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received seven reported incidents.�

Though there is not a fix at this time, BMW is reportedly working on a solution involving a locking ring inserted onto the camshaft so that oil flow to the vacuum pump remains unimpaired. 

For now, BMW recommends that you continue to drive your vehicle until the recall notice is sent to owners in December. The two-hour fix will be conducted free of charge. However, if drivers experience any loss of braking ability BMW recommends that they pull over immediately.

List of models affected:

• 2012-14 320i/328i, 320i/328i xDrive Sedan manufactured between May 2012 – August 2013
• 2014 328i xDrive Sports Wagon manufactured between March 2013 – May 2013
• 2012-13 528i, 528i xDrive Sedan manufactured between June 2012 – June 2013
• 2013-14 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i manufactured between June 2012 – June 2013
• 2013-14 X3 xDrive28i manufactured between June 2012 – August 2013
• 2012-14 Z4 sDrive28i manufactured between June 2012 – June 2013

<![CDATA[
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A private team called Ciceley Racing has announced it will field a 2014 Mercedes-Benz A-Class in the Dunlop MSA British Car Touring Championship. �

The race-going A-Class will stand out from its regular-production sibling thanks to an aerodynamic body kit consisting of a lip spoiler up front, side skirts that incorporate exhaust outlets on both sides, a functional air diffuser integrated into the rear bumper and a large spoiler mounter on top of the hatch.  Large orange alloy wheels wrapped in low-profile Dunlop tires will help the track-bound A maintain grip while going around corners while beefier brakes will safely bring the car to a stop even in the most extreme circumstances.

Ciceley promises the stock A’s plush interior will be replaced by a full roll cage, a bucket seat and an analog instrument cluster.

Precise technical specifications will be published closer to the car’s track debut but preliminary information hints the hatchback will be powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged direct-injected four-cylinder engine with an overboost function linked to a six-speed sequential gearbox.  

Look for the modified A-Class to debut at England’s Brands Hatch Circuit next March.  It will go head-to-head against equally modified BMW 1-Series, Honda Civics and MG 3 hatchbacks.<![CDATA[
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Citing slow sales and long production times, a new report finds Aston Martin has ended production of the Cygnet, a two-door city car heavily based on the Scion iQ.

The Cygnet was introduced as a concept car in 2010 and launched a year later in order to lower Aston Martni’s fleet-wide emissions and boost its annual sales.  It shares most of its sheetmetal and its 97-horsepower 1.3-liter gas-burning four-cylinder engine with the iQ (sold as a Toyota in Europe) but it offers buyers a luxurious and highly-customizable interior.

Aston Martin has not published precise production figures but the Cygnet was unpopular by most means of measurement and the automaker likely did not sell the 20,000 examples a year it initially planned.  Curiously, the slow sales were largely attributed to how long it took to transform the iQ into a Cygnet.

“I’m not satisfied with Cygnet sales,” explained CEO Ulrich Bez in a September 2011 interview. “We can’t deliver as many as the customers want, as we don’t have enough stock. It is the sort of product a customer sees and decides they want on the spot – they don’t want to have to wait for their car to be built, but to drive it away there and then.”

Although production has reportedly ended, Aston dealers around the world still have a large supply of new Cygnets so it is not too late to purchase one.  The car retails for £31,995 (roughly $51,300) in its home country, considerably more than the £​10,995 (about $17,600) iQ.<![CDATA[
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