Mazda has announced plans to debut sedan version of the just-introduced Mazda 2 hatchback. The unveiling will take place at the upcoming Thailand Auto Expo.

The sedan would be built locally and available with Mazda’s 1.5L SkyActiv-D diesel. Curiously, the report in the Bangkok Post reveals specs that differ slightly than what has been officially stated by Mazda — 105hp and 162 lb-ft of torque, versus 103hp and 184 lb-ft in the Japanese-spec Demio. When equipped with a manual transmission and the automatic start-stop function, it can return up to 71 mpg in the Japanese cycle.

The story also states that Mazda is considering offering the sedan in Europe and Australia, though in those markets it will likely have the option of the 1.3L SkyActiv-G petrol engine in addition to the diesel.

Styling has not been discussed, but all sections from the doors forward are expected to be identical to the Mazda 2 hatchback. In many Asian markets, including China, customers believe sedans confer higher status. Honda also offers a sedan version of the Fit, called the City, in Thailand.

The Thailand Auto Expo begins November 28, and the production version will go on sale in 2015. Currently there are no plans to bring the Mazda 2 sedan to the US.

Toyota has unveiled a trio of heavily modified Scion FR-S coupes that will take center stage at their SEMA display next week. The cars competitors in Scion’s annual SEMA Tuner Challenge series, in which three teams are given identical cars and $15,000 to build the most outrageous customized versions imaginable.

The Super Street FR-S was inspired by the yellow Release Series 1.0 car. In addition to the RS1′s aero add-ons, it wears a Rocket Bunny widebody kit draped over custom BBS LM wheels. The centerpiece of the build is its 2.0L flat four, which has been fitted with stunning 70mm velocity stacks on a Borla individual throttle body setup. With all extraneous accessories, wiring and items such as the battery, master cylinders and alternator relocated, the standalone engine is a work of art.

The Maximum Attack FR-S was the creation of Speedhunters, an automotive lifestyle site founded by video game company Electronic Arts. At the center is a Cosworth supercharged version of its 2.0L boxer good for an estimated 300hp. Wrapped around it is a gorgeous widebody skin reminiscent of Toyota’s 80s IMSA racers, complete with retro TRD tricolor livery. The nostalgic theme continues with a louvered hood, white-letter tires and side mirrors placed on the fenders as a tribute to classic Japanese cars.

The Mine’s FR-S Concept eschews the gratuitous exterior for a standard Release Series body kit in subdued two-tone silver. At its heart is its 2.0L horizontally opposed four-cylinder fed by an HKS supercharger. The rear-wheel horsepower has been measured at 223hp, meaning the motor is probably generating about 256. It was built by tuning sites GTChannel and MotoIQ with collaboration from Mine’s, a Japanese tuning house known for high-power GT-Rs dating back to the R32.

Voting for the Scion Tuner Challenge can be done online. The winner will be announced at the 2014 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Volkswagen has introduced a limited-edition version of the tiny up! city car called street up!
Based on the five-door version of the up!, the street up! stands out thanks to an eye-catching two-tone black and silver paint job with yellow accents, “up!” graphics on the roof, fog lights with chromed bezels and 16-inch alloy wheels.

The two-tone treatment continues inside with black and silver cloth upholstery accented by yellow contrast stitching. The street up! also features an upgraded stereo system, tinted windows and an edition-specific shift knob.

Volkswagen has not made any mechanical modifications. Buyers can choose from one of two gasoline-burning three-cylinder engines that make 60 and 75 horsepower, respectively. Both engines are linked to a five-speed manual transmission, and the smaller unit returns up to 53 mpg in a mixed European cycle.

A lowered and stiffened suspension setup helps the street up! handle better than the stock model.

The Volkswagen street up! is currently on sale in its home country of Germany. It carries a base price of €13,575, a sum that converts to a little over $17,000. Volkswagen has not announced how many examples of the street up! it plans on building and whether or not the special edition model will be offered in other countries across Europe.

Honda has launched a new ad campaign, “The Other Side,” featuring the Civic Type R concept.
The company’s YouTube page features an interactive video showing both sides of the Civic family. Running through the segment initially shows a father using his basic hatchback to pick up the kids from school, however pressing and holding the ‘R’ button reveals a matching sequence as the Type R runs from bad guys after serving as a getaway vehicle for a smash-and-grab robbery.

The latest Type R was recently introduced at the Paris Motor Show, previewing the production model. The hatchback is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged i-VTEC engine, bringing the power output up to 280 horsepower.

The video shows the +R button that switches to a performance-driving mode, stiffening the suspension and tweaking the steering and throttle settings.

Honda is expected to ship the Type R sometime next year, however the company has no plans to offer the model in the US market.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ new head of the Ram division has blamed the brand’s recent Consumer Reports failure on customer ignorance in the face of new technology.
Bob Hegbloom points out that the average age of a pickup truck is 11 years. Many new buyers consequently are only familiar with technology that was offered in vehicles a full decade ago.

“Eleven years ago, did anyone know what a Wi-Fi hotspot was?” the executive asked, according to quotes published by Bloomberg. “There’s going to be some growing pains.”

Consumer Reports pointed to infotainment systems as a “growing reliability plague” for many automakers, though the poor ratings are blamed on poor design rather than customers that are new to such technology. The magazine also suggests that tech issues are usually not the only problem for the low-ranking brands.

“Infotainment system problems generally don’t exist in a vacuum,” said CR‘s automotive testing director, Jake Fisher. “A close look at the results suggests that cars with a lot of in-car electronic issues usually have plenty of other troubles, too.”

Despite Hegbloom’s comments, FCA made an even stronger statement when it replaced its quality head the day after four of its brands fell to the bottom of the survey rankings. Chrysler has also faced growing criticism over its alleged mishandling of recalls and resistance to acknowledging well-known defects in its vehicles.

Nissan has detailed a sequential turbocharger system that will be used in the next-generation Titan diesel.
Built by Cummins, the technology takes advantage of two turbocharger sizes to optimize boost at both low and high rpm. The smaller, lighter unit quickly spools up when the engine is near idle, while the larger turbocharger takes over for higher pressure when the engine is under higher loads.

An electronic rotary valve provides the control for the system, managing which turbocharger receives more exhaust flow. It can also serve as a wastegate or raise the back pressure, working as an exhaust brake and increasing exhaust temperature to help clean the diesel particle filter.

The setup is expected to squeeze up to 300 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque from the 5.0-liter V8 engine, according to Car & Driver.

The next-generation pickup is due to be unveiled in January at the Detroit auto show.

Ferrari has been hit with a $3.5 million fine from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for failing to comply with reporting requirements.
The agency accuses the Italian luxury brand of violating federal law by declining to submit reports surrounding three fatal accidents.

The company previously qualified as a small-volume manufacturer, exempting it from quarterly early-warning reporting (EWR), however the company was still required to notify the agency of any fatal accidents involving its vehicles.

“There is no excuse for failing to follow laws created to keep drivers safe, and our aggressive enforcement action today underscores the point that all automakers will be held accountable if they fail to do their part in our mission to keep Americans safe on the road,” said US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

The NHTSA has also established a consent order that requires Ferrari to improve its EWR reporting processes, train personnel on the EWR requirements, communicate the improvements to the agency and retroactively submit any missing reports.

“Early warning reports are like NHTSA’s radar, helping us to find unsafe vehicles and make sure they are fixed,” said NHTSA Deputy Administrator David Friedman. “Companies that violate the law and fail to comply will be subject to comparable swift NHTSA enforcement action.”

Notably, the NHTSA appears to have only initiated action after a letter from Senators Ed Markey and Richard Blumenthal pointed out that Ferrari had never reported a death or injury claim through EWR. The revelation will likely fuel criticism that the agency has not been proactive in its mission to enforce federal safety regulations.

Aston Martin has won a federal exemption to tighter safety regulations that recently went into effect.
The company had petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to grant a temporary stay, allowing the current-generation DB9 and Vantage to be sold for several more years without any design modifications.

Bringing the existing models into compliance would have allegedly required an investment of approximately $30 million, equating to approximately $45,000 per vehicle sold in the US market between 2014 and 2017.

Dealers later joined the campaign, arguing that showrooms would have to be shuttered and employment would be threatened if the offending models were no longer legal to sell to US buyers.

“The basis for the grant is that compliance would cause substantial economic hardship to a low volume manufacturer that has tried in good faith to comply with the standard,” the agency wrote in its exemption notice.

Aston Martin now has until 2017 to bring its full lineup into compliance, allowing the next-generation models to arrive with the necessary design considerations to improve crashworthiness.