Confirming earlier reports, Nissan has announced that its 2015 Versa sedan will make its official debut next week in New York.

The subcompact features modernized aesthetics, exemplified by redesigned headlights, a bit more chrome on the enlarged grille, and a new foglight finisher. The front-end changes bring the entry-level Nissan into line with the latest Sentra, Altima and Maxima designs.

The rear fascia design has also been tweaked to fit with the “Nissan family” look, while SV and SL trim levels feature new side mirror designs. The SV packages can also be purchased with new 15-inch V-spoke aluminum alloy wheels.

Refinements can also be found within, greeting occupants with improved fabric, a revised meter display — illuminated via white LEDs rather than orange — and a new center stack. Drivers can also take advantage of a new steering wheel with standard audio and Bluetooth controls.

“Like the exterior changes, the interior refinements provide a more substantial, higher quality look and feel,” said Nissan North America product-planning VP Pierre Long.

The 2015 Versa maintains the existing powertrain, with 109 horsepower and 107 lb-ft of torque produced by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder mill. Power is delivered to the wheels via five-speed manual, four-speed automatic or CVT gearboxes. The constant-velocity Xtronic option achieves the best fuel efficiency, rated at 31 mpg city, 40 mpg highway or 35 mpg combined.

All of the refinements arrive without an increase in price, as the 2015 model maintains an $11,990 entry point (excluding $810 destination charge).

Buggati has revealed its fifth model in the Legends Edition collection, the Veyron Vitesse ‘Black Bess.”

The package celebrates the company’s legendary Type 18, one of the fastest road vehicles of the pre-war era. Powered by a four-cylinder five-liter engine, it was capable of topping out at 100 mph when it was raced by company founder Ettore Bugatti.

One particular Type 18, named after the English racing horse ‘Black Bess,’ was delivered to famous French aviator Roland Garros after he successfully crossed the Mediterranean in an airplane.

The name has been revived by a Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, with a glossy all-black finish accented by thin gold stripes and genuine 24-karat gold inlay on the horseshoe and other exterior and interior accents.

The beige and brown leather interior features hand-painted motifs on the rear storage compartment and door panels. Both the Type 18 ‘Black Bess’ and Garros’ Morane Saulnier Type H airplane are visible.

Bugatti will be bringing the original Type 18 to Beijing, presented alongside one of three ‘Black Bess’ Legends Edition cars.

Volkswagen will unveil a new Golf SportWagen concept at next week’s New York International Auto Show. Although labeled a concept, the Golf SportWagen is essentially a thinly-veiled production model that will replace the current Jetta SportWagen early next year.

Based largely on the seventh-generation Golf hatchback, the Golf SportWagen utilizes VW’s latest MQB modular architecture. Thanks to that high-tech basis – which is compromised mostly of high- and ultra-high strength steel – the Golf SportWagen will weigh less than the outgoing Jetta SportWagen.

In addition to being lighter than the Jetta, the Golf SportWagen will also offer more room. The new model is 1.1 inches longer and 0.7 wider than the current SportWagen, netting a cargo area that is about 10 percent bigger than in today’s car. Despite being nearly an inch lower than the current SportWagen, the Golf SportWagen will boast a 0.4 inch increase in headroom.

The Golf SportWagen’s default powertrain will be a 170 horsepower 1.8L TSI four-cylinder driving the front wheels. Buyer will be able to choose between a five-speed manual and a six-speed automatic. VW estimates that the 1.8L-equipped SportWagen will be about 17 percent more efficient than the current SportWagen model.

VW’s latest 2.0L TDI clean diesel will also be available for order in the Golf SportWagen. Generating 150 horsepower, the oil burner can be mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

The new Golf SportWagen will also offer VW’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive system.

VW says the Golf SportWagen will arrive in dealer showrooms during the early part of 2015.

A single leaked image might have prematurely revealed Hyundai’s upcoming compact crossover ahead of its scheduled debut at next week’s Beijing Motor Show.

Tentatively called ix25, the compact crossover wears a tall front end that borrows a fair dose of styling cues from the larger Santa Fe Sport. The ix25′s roofline peaks above the driver and gently slopes towards the rear, while its back end appears to wear a more squared-off design than that of its larger sibling.

Rumors indicate the ix25 rides on the same platform that will underpin the upcoming second-generation i20, a small hatchback that will be roughly the same size as the Accent hatchback. If that is the case, the crossover will likely be offered with a host of three- and four-cylinder gas and diesel engines pulled from the Hyundai parts bin. Front-wheel drive will come standard, and all-wheel drive will be offered as an option on select models and trim levels.

The Hyundai ix25 will be built in China for the local market. It might be offered in neighboring countries, but whether it will join Hyundai’s U.S. lineup as a smaller alternative to the Tuscon is not known.

General Motors has announced that it is planning to replace ignition lock cylinders in 2.2 million vehicles that have already been recalled due to defective ignition switches.

The company now acknowledges a problem that allows the engine to continue running even after the key is removed from the cylinder.

The issue has been merely an annoyance for many drivers, however it also poses a potential safety threat for cars equipped with manual transmissions. When parking, some drivers simply leave the car in gear and turn off the engine without pulling the handbrake. This could cause an accident if the driver takes their foot off the clutch pedal without realizing the engine is still running.

“Searches of GM and government databases found one rollaway in a parking lot that resulted in a crash and one injury claim,” the company notes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration complaint database includes several hundred complaints of such behavior. Another popular complaint points to an opposite problem, with keys sticking in the lock cylinder.

GM plans to replace the ignition lock cylinders in the 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2007-2010 Saturn Sky and 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR.

The company has redoubled its forecast for the costs associated with the ongoing recalls, bumping the estimate up to $1.3 billion.

Under its new owner, National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), Saab has reportedly started building its first all-electric 9-3 sedans.

Based on the same 9-3 platform that was under production before the Swedish brand went bankrupt, the electric variant swaps the internal-combustion engine for an electric motor and lithium-ion batteries mounted low in the chassis.

With an electric range of 20 Scandinavian miles (~124 statute miles), the 9-3 EV is capable of driving 50 percent farther than the Nissan Leaf but only half the distance of a Model S, according to Swedish magazine Auto Motor & Sport.

The initial run is said to be limited to 200 units, all of which will be shipped to the Chinese city of Qingdao for further testing ahead of a wider rollout.

The company plans to eventually extend the range as battery development increases, though it is unclear if the first volume-production edition will benefit from additional power capacity.

After testing is completed in Qingdao, shipping to global customers is expected to begin later this spring or summer. Pricing information and full specs have yet to be announced.

France’s Peugeot has fully revealed the Exalt concept that will greet the public for the first time at the upcoming Beijing Motor Show.

Taking the form of a sleek four-door coupe, the Exalt borrows styling cues such as its slim, angular grille, its ripped hood and its sharp headlights form the Onyx concept that was presented at the 2012 edition of the Paris Motor Show. 20-inch alloy wheels and sculpted flanks accentuate the car’s sporty silhouette.

Inside, the Exalt concept boasts an upscale cabin with acres of real wood trim, an integrated air purifier and a new infotainment system dubbed Peugeot i-Cockpit. The bulk of the controls on the center console have been replaced by nine toggle switches arranged in two groups located on either side of the steering wheel.

Power comes from a gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain consisting of 270-horsepower 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder borrowed from the 308 R concept and a 67-horsepower electric motor located on the rear axle. Together, the two power sources send 340 horsepower to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.

Peugeot has not revealed what the future holds for the Exalt but sources close to the automaker indicate it could spawn an oft-rumored four-door coupe that would take on entry-level variants of the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class. The yet-unnamed model would help Peugeot target a younger clientele while moving up a notch on the market in Europe and in China.

Stay tuned to Leftlane for live images of the Peugeot Exalt concept straight from the Beijing show floor starting on April 20th.

Chrysler’s Ram truck division has launched a new version of its off-road ready Power Wagon. Based on the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty 4×4 Crew Cab, the Power Wagon promises to be one of the most capable pickups in the segment.

In addition to the standard 2500 kit, the Power Wagon includes a 2-inch lift, locking differentials and a 12,000-pound winch. The Power Wagon also boasts Bilstein shocks at all four corners, and a unique Ram Articulink suspension design that allows for better off-road articulation.

“Capability is top of mind with heavy-duty pickup truck customers. Ram trucks are expected to work every day without breaking a sweat,” said Reid Bigland, President and CEO of the Ram Truck Brand. “The 2014 Ram Power Wagon fills a need for those who travel into extreme terrain for rescue or recreation, while delivering on-road civility and the towing capability expected from a heavy-duty truck.”

The Power Wagon is powered by a 410 horsepower, 429 lb-ft of torque version of Chrysler’s 6.4L HEMI V8. No fuel economy ratings were released, but the 6.4L will feature cylinder deactivation for improved mileage. A lower 4.10 rear axle ratio, down from 4.56, should also help in the economy department.

Power is routed to the Power Wagon’s standard 33-inch wheel and tire package via a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Power Wagon will be offered in three trim levels – Tradesman, SLT and Laramie.

MINI has announced it will unveil a limited-edition version of the Cooper Hardtop called DeLux at next week’s New York Motor Show.

Designed by Virginia Commonwealth University sophomore Alex Coyle, the DeLux is the winner of the Final Test Test Drive contest that kicked off online a few weeks ago. The contest asked current MINI owners to design a bespoke appearance package for the recently-unveiled third-gen Cooper.

Starting with all-black MINI, Coyle added black light-inspired graphics on virtually every body panel in order to make the car stand out at night. Driving lights mounted in front of the radiator grille and 18-inch alloy wheels add a sporty touch to the overall look.

Interior pictures are not available but MINI says the DeLux packs an off-white dash and contrasting Black Pearl leatherette/cloth seats. It is loaded to the brim with optional equipment including the Cold Weather Package, the Premium Package, the Sport Package and the Comfort Access Package.

Coyle’s design uses the 189-horsepower Cooper S model as a starting point. MINI has not announced if the DeLux package will be offered on the more humble Cooper model.

Coyle explains her limited-edition model’s moniker hints at both the custom paint job and the level of equipment found inside.

“‘Lux’ is the root meaning of ‘light,’” explained Coyle. “After I went through all the options I had available to customize the car I went for all the bells and whistles and created what I call a “Deluxe” model. The result was DeLux.”

Pricing information for the limited-edition Cooper Hardtop DeLux will be published closer to the car’s on-sale date.