Honda is celebrating the grand opening of its new Heritage Center in Marysville, Ohio.
The museum is filled with 55 years of Honda vehicles and equipment, all associated with the Japanese company’s presence in Ohio and the rest of North America. Visitor can catch a glimpse of historic and modern automobiles, motorcycles, race vehicles, industrial robots and aerospace products.

The 160,000-square-foot building is also home to Honda’s new Technical Development Center, which serves as a training headquarters for the company’s engineers, service technicians and product associates.

“A vision to dream big is evident throughout the museum, exemplified by the visible evolution of the motorcycles, automobiles and power equipment on display,” the company notes in its announcement. “In addition, the space honors groundbreaking new Honda technologies such as a replica of the humanoid robot ASIMO and the HondaJet, which will begin customer deliveries in 2015.”

The $35 million facility will officially open its doors to the public in January.

General Motors is facing a new enemy in its ongoing court battles, thrown under the bus by the ‘Old GM.’
The pre-bankruptcy entity, which still lives on as a trust, has accused the ‘New GM’ of illegally hiding the defect during the bailout proceedings. The trust argues that the surviving company is consequently responsible for paying lost-value claims and other compensation related to the ignition-switch defect.

The Old GM’s position does not come as much as a surprise, as the New GM asked courts to redirect customer lawsuits to the pre-bankruptcy company. The Old GM is responsible for managing old debts, however it claims to be short on funds to pay damages in a flurry of lawsuit.

“New GM’s request exceeds the bounds of both constitutional due process and the sale order, and therefore, must be denied,” the trust wrote in a filing, as quoted by Bloomberg.

GM has continued to defend its legal position, noting in a follow-up statement that the issues “will be decided by bankruptcy court.” The court’s decision will be significant, potentially exposing the company to claims worth $10 billion.

General Motors has upgraded the Chevrolet Volt‘s regenerative braking system for the 2016 model year.
The Chevy-badged hybrid essentially borrows existing technology that has been limited to its upmarket stablemate, the Cadillac ELR. Drivers will be able to manage the regenerative braking system via paddle buttons on the steering wheel.

Pressing the paddle buttons will adjust the regenerative braking force, allowing drivers to maximize energy capture without using the traditional friction brakes in certain scenarios.

“It is even more refined than the ELR,” observes GM product chief Mark Reuss in a short YouTube segment — shot from inside a heavily camouflaged 2016 Volt.

The next-generation Volt is expected to introduce a wide range of upgrades, including a lighter battery that is rumored to stretch the electric-only range to 50-60 miles.

Full details will be released next month at the Detroit auto show.

McLaren has released yet another teaser photo for its upcoming Sports Series coupe.
The latest shot finally shows the entire vehicle as it launches around a track in full drift, though the front bumper and headlamps are still obscured by camouflage fabric.

The new entry-level model shares the 650S’ carbon-fiber tub chassis and mid-mounted 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8, though the teasers suggest a few body elements have taken inspiration from the company’s flagship P1.

Unconfirmed reports point to engine output around 450 horsepower, enabling a zero-to-60 mph sprint in four seconds and a top speed around 185 mph.

The Sports Series is expected to fetch around $210,000 when it arrives, likely in 2015.

It looks like a replacement for the Ford GT is a sure thing, and we’re going to see it at the Detroit Auto Show next month.
Sources familiar with Ford’s racing efforts have confirmed to AutoWeek that not only is the new supercar a done deal, but it’ll be going back to Le Mans to defend its legacy in 2016.

The new supercar will be billed as an heir to both the GT40 that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans four consecutive times in the 1960s and the retro-styled GT (pictured) sold in 2005 and 2006. Most likely mid-engined, the supercar might not wear the GT nameplate but its silhouette will pay an unmistakable homage to its predecessors.

The Le Mans entry, along with a full Tudor United SportsCar Championship program, will be headed by Chip Ganassi Racing. It will be formally announced in the months following the new car’s debut.

The GT replacement is expected to spearhead an onslaught of high-performance models. Ford will also present the second generation of the SVT Raptor off-roader. We know that it will be based on the new aluminum-bodied F-150 but additional details such as what it will be powered by are being kept under wraps.

As previously reported, Ford will almost certainly show a more extreme version of the Shelby GT350 that debuted in Los Angeles earlier this month. Aimed squarely at the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, the GT350R will stand out with a more aggressive body kit, bigger brakes and a stripped interior.

Finally, rumors indicate a hot-rodded version of the Focus hatchback could make an appearance in the nation’s Motor City. Badged RS, it will pack a 300-horsepower version of the 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder that is available on the 2015 Mustang. The Focus RS will be introduced next March at the Geneva Motor Show if it sits out Detroit.

All of the aforementioned cars will be grouped under the Ford Performance sub-brand, which will be similar to Mercedes’ AMG division and BMW’s M.

Stay tuned to Leftlane for full details and live images of Ford’s high-performance lineup starting next month.