Lexus is reportedly ready to formally reveal its next-generation RX 350 crossover.
Early rumors pointing to a Detroit debut proved inaccurate, however unnamed sources now tell Edmunds the company will unveil the new RX at the New York auto show in April.

Recent spy shots show the RX’ modestly revised exterior, which is believed to have been stretched to accommodate a third-row seat. It is expected to feature a spindle grille and other aesthetic tweaks to bring the model up to date with Lexus’ latest design language.

The latest rumors suggest the RX 350 will be built upon the same platform that underpins the Toyota Camry and Avalon, with extensive use of lightweight materials for improved fuel economy.

The new crossover is expected to arrive on the market later this year.

Dutch boutique automaker Donkervoort has introduced a limited-edition version of the D8 GTO supercar called Blister Berg.
Named after a race track in Germany, the Blister Berg Edition stands out from the already muscular-looking D8 GTO thanks to a new front fascia characterized by a blacked out radiator grille with carbon fiber slats, a revised roll cage, a sprinkling of Blister Berg Edition badges and black multi-spoke wheels wrapped by semi-slick tires. Additional carbon fiber components and body panels can be ordered at an extra cost.

The interior has been similarly upgraded with carbon fiber seats upholstered with a special type of leather, ultra-light carpet and a LCD data logging display that replaces the instrument cluster. A decorative metal plaque engraved with the car’s serial number and the name of the owner adds a finishing touch to the custom-built look.

Power comes from a 2.5-liter TFSI five-cylinder engine borrowed from the Audi parts bin. Donkervoort has not published precise technical and performance specifications but it says the Blister Berg Edition comes standard with a race clutch and an ultra-light flywheel. The stock D8 GTO is capable of reaching 62 mph from a stop in 2.8 seconds so the Blister Berg Edition should be at least marginally faster.

Donkervoort will build just 14 examples of the D8 GTO Blister Berg Edition. Each one will carry a base price of €194,000, a sum that converts to nearly $225,000.

General Motors’ Germany-based Opel division has traveled to the Brussels Motor Show to introduce the 2015 Corsavan, the smallest member of its commercial vehicle lineup.
The Corsavan is aimed at business owners who need a small and efficient delivery vehicle that can navigate traffic in big cities with ease. It is nearly identical to the three-door Corsa hatchback when viewed from the outside but it stands out immediately thanks to body-colored welded-in rear windows.

Inside, Opel has tossed out the rear seats to free up a flat loading floor and it has installed a half-height steel bulkhead that separates the passenger and cargo compartments. The Corsavan offers 32.5 cubic feet of cargo space and it can haul over 1,250 pounds when properly equipped. The list of standard equipment includes numerous tie-down hooks, a Hill Start Assist function and a City Mode that reduces the effort required to turn the steering wheel at low speeds.

Buyers can choose from two gasoline engines and a diesel unit whose outputs range from 70 to 95 horsepower. The efficiency champ of the lineup is a 1.3-liter ecoFLEX turbodiesel four-cylinder that uses a start/stop system to return up to 71 mpg in a mixed European cycle.

The 2015 Opel Corsavan will go on sale across Europe in the next few weeks. Like nearly all Opel products, the Corsavan will wear a Vauxhall emblem in the United Kingdom.

An all-new third-generation Honda Pilot could be coming as soon as this summer, hot on the heels of the 2016 HR-V that will hit the market this spring.

The announcement came during the final automaker press conference of the Detroit Auto Show this week, in which American Honda executive vice president John Mendel called the upcoming product for 2015 “Year of the Honda.”

Though few details were provided, Mendel did confirm that the Pilot would continue to be an 8-passenger SUV. Spy shots seen last year indicate that the large crossover will have LED lighting up front, with some sources claiming a 3.5L V6 capable of 310hp, up 60 from the current 250hp. However, a version of the newly-announced turbocharged VTEC four-cylinder is also possible. Also asserted is a CVT for the front-driven two-wheel-drive versions while the AWD variants get a 6-speed automatic.

Presumably, the Pilot will continue to share a platform with the Ridgeline unibody pickup, which was recently photographed undergoing testing in camouflage. Slated for model year 2016, it will follow the redesigned Pilot to market.

Mendel also mentioned “some more excitement on the passenger car side of our lineup this year as well” but declined to reveal anything more.

Lexus is getting ready to launch its first ever global racing program. The news was buried in the Detroit Auto Show press conference, overshadowed by the launch of the GS F sports sedan, but it marks a significant shift in Lexus philosophy.

The car at the heart of the new racing program — called, appropriately, Lexus Racing — is the new RC F sports coupe. We’ve covered its exploits in the Japanese SuperGT series and in the European FIA GT3 leagues, but now we have official word that Lexus will compete in a yet-to-be-named North American championship. The first hint of such an expansion came at SEMA, where Lexus showed its gleaming chrome-on-white race car, but now its officially official.

The preliminary specs of the RC F GT3 are as follows: A 5.0L naturally aspirated V8 tuned to 543hp, nearly 100 more horses than the street legal version. The overall weight of the race car is just 2,756 pounds, but further information was not revealed just yet.

The move indicates Lexus is serious about shedding its conservative blazer for a sleek three-piece suit. For years the brand has struggled to be taken seriously as a performance alternative. Despite some sporty models like the original SC coupe, IS sports sedan, the snarly 2007 IS F and the LFA supercar, those attempts always seemed to dead end with out a second act.

With the new announcement, the division is finally committed to investing in an expensive motorsports program that will, hopefully trickle down into the street car DNA. Lexus officials at the Detroit Auto Show said that 2015 would likely be a real-world testing phase with the full effort to launch in 2016.

Live images by Ben Hsu.

A new report coming out of Brazil indicates that Volkswagen is busily preparing a performance-focused version of the tiny up! city car.
Tentatively christened up! GT, the hatchback will be powered by a turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder TSI engine sourced from the bigger Polo. The mill will send at least 100 horsepower – 25 more than the standard up! – to the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. The extra grunt should allow the up! to reach 62 mph from a stop in about ten seconds.

The up! GT will borrow styling cues from the GT up! concept that was presented to the public at the 2011 edition of the Frankfurt Motor Show. It will gain a deeper front bumper with a large air duct, side skirts, a roof-mounted spoiler and twin round exhaust pipes integrated into the rear bumper. Large alloy wheels will round out the visual modifications.

Brazil’s Car Blog claims that the up! GT will go on sale locally in May. Volkswagen has chosen not to comment on the matter, so whether or not the tiny hot hatch will be sold in Europe is not known.

If the rumor proves true, additional details about the Volkswagen up! GT will emerge over the coming months.

South Korea’s Ssangyong Motors has introduced a new subcompact crossover called Tivoli.
Named after a picturesque town in central Italy, Ssangyong’s newest model stands out from nearly every off-roader the company has built in the past thanks to a more upscale appearance characterized by sharp headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights, a deep bumper with a sizable air dam and a sculpted hood. The company says the Tivoli previews its next design language, indicating that it is preparing to ditch its utilitarian roots and move closer to the mainstream.

The premium treatment continues inside with piano black and faux aluminum trim, two-tone upholstery, Bluetooth connectivity and a touch screen-based infotainment system. The instrument cluster is made up of two analog gauges and a configurable thin-film transistor (TFT) screen, and select models can be fitted with a rear-view camera.

Power comes from a 1.6-liter e-XGi four-cylinder engine that generates 126 horsepower and 116 lb-ft. of torque. A six-speed manual transmission comes standard, and a six-speed automatic unit is available at an extra cost.

The Ssangyong Tivoli will greet the public for first time in March at the Geneva Motor Show and it will go on sale across Europe and Asia shortly after. An earlier report indicates that Ssangyong parent company Mahindra and Mahindra has taken the preliminary steps to bring the Korean automaker to U.S. shores so the Tivoli could arrive here and take on the Nissan Juke before the end of its life cycle.

One of the most exciting Detroit auto shows in recent years is officially in the books, but that doesn’t mean the action has to stop just yet.
In order to bring the pictures to life, we’ve put together a three-minute re-cap video of the 2015 North American International Auto Show. We’ve included all the highlights, including the Acura NSX, Ford GT, Porsche 911 Targa GTS and the Nissan Titan, among others.

We’d still recommend making a trip to the Motor City to check out the industry’s latest wares, but our video is worthy substitute if you can’t make it to Southeastern Michigan.

What was your favorite Detroit debut? Let us know in the comments below.

Highlights:

2017 Ford GT

Ford has again resurrected its iconic GT nameplate, celebrating 50 years since the company’s first 24 Hours of Le Mans win. The new flagship supercar brings an aggressive appearance with plenty of carbon fiber and a twin-turbocharged EcoBoot engine capable of producing over 600 horsepower.

Chevrolet Bolt Concept

The Bolt represents General Motors’ answer to the Tesla Model 3, promising to deliver more than 200 miles of all-electric range with a price tag around $30,000. The company claims the subcompact will be a game changer, with a focus on affordability and practicality.

2016 Acura NSX

Acura has finally revealed its long-awaited NSX, which closely resembles the concept model. It will showcase Honda’s latest and greatest technologies, notably the Sport-Hybrid Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive system that is rumored to deliver more than 600 ponies. Acura design chief Jon Ikeda promises the supercar has been designed to focus on the “synergy between man and machine.”

2016 Nissan Titan

Nissan is attempting to shake up the pickup segment with its all-new Titan. The half-ton model introduces a new design language and a Cummins V8 diesel engine. It has been built with utility in mind, though the interior has been upgraded with a renewed focus on comfort.

Infiniti Q60 Concept

Infiniti promises the Q60 Concept serves as an accurate representation for the next-generation production model. It embraces a sportier look, with muscular lines and sharper headlights. It could also be the first model to be sold with the company’s new 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine.

Complete list of introductions:

Alfa Romeo 4C Spider
Audi Q7
BMW 6-Series
Buick Avenir concept

Cadillac CTS-V
Chevrolet Volt

Ford F-150 Raptor
Ford Shelby GT350R Mustang
Hyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck Concept
Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid
Lexus GS F
Lincoln MKX
Mercedes-AMG GLE63 S Coupe
Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe
Mercedes-Benz C350 Plug-in Hybrid
Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG 4Matic
MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop

Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS

Porsche Cayenne Turbo S
Ram 1500 Rebel
smart fortwo cabrio flashlight edition
Toyota Tacoma
Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE concept
Volvo S60 Cross Country

Image by Brian Williams.

Scion has confirmed that its diminutive iQ is on track to be discontinued sometime in the near future.
Available in the US market since 2011, the iQ experienced a steep drop in sales from 2013 to 2014. Just 87 units rolled away from showrooms in December, representing a small fraction of the brand’s overall sales.

Brand chief Doug Murtha acknowledges that many potential buyers may have viewed the iQ’s small size as a deal breaker, particularly when associated with its $16,000 price tag. Some potential suitors may have also expected fuel efficiency ratings higher than 37 mpg.

“We’ve learned lessons on all of those fronts and that’s going to influence how we approach vehicle development going forward,” said brand chief Doug Murtha, as quoted by Bloomberg.

The company late last year revealed its iM concept, which will likely arrive in showrooms sometime this year. The hatchback will be followed by a sedan that carries the same nameplate, while a third new model will be added to the lineup within the next three years.

Ford has donated the first production Shelby GT350R Mustang to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund.
The winning bidder of lot No. 3008, scheduled for the upcoming auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, will receive VIN#001 optioned with any available colors and packages.

Unveiled at the Detroit auto show, the GT350R is promoted as the most track-capable street-legal Mustang ever built. It introduces a new 5.2-liter V8 engine with a flat-plane crankshaft, good for over 500 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque, while suspension and brakes have been similarly upgraded to help shave down lap times.

“The Shelby GT350R is a world-class car, the best performing Mustang that we have ever built,” said Ford’s global development VP, Raj Nair. “We are thrilled to donate the first retail production Shelby GT350R to JDRF for auction. When this car crosses the auction block it should raise a tremendous amount of money for a great charity.”

The auction will be covered live by the Velocity channel on Saturday, January 17.