Low-resolution leaked images have prematurely revealed the new 2016 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible.
Erroneously published by Chevrolet on its own website, the leaked images confirm the Convertible is all but identical to the coupe from the rocker panels to the belt line. Above that, it gets a cloth soft top that retracts at the push of a button, even when the car is in motion. With the top closed, the Convertible’s roof line is nearly identical to the coupe’s.

Engine options will be carried over from the all-new sixth-generation Camaro coupe that was introduced last month. Entry-level models will get a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 275 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. of torque, mid-range models will benefit from a 335-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 and range-topping models will feature a direct-injected 6.2-liter V8 rated at 455 horsepower and 455 lb-ft. of torque.

All models will be available with a driving mode selector that will let the driver select from “Snow/Ice,” “Tour” and “Sport.” SS models will up the ante with a “Track” mode, and they will be offered with General Motors’ Magnetic Ride Control active suspension system.

Stay tuned, the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible will be officially unveiled online tomorrow. Following its debut, it is expected to go on sale across the nation by the end of the year.

General Motors is reportedly preparing to launch a hatchback version of its next-generation Cruze in the US market.
The company has not officially disclosed such plans, but a Cruze hatchback was presented to US auto dealers at a gathering in Las Vegas last week, unnamed sources told Automotive News.

Offering a Cruze hatchback at home would not require a new vehicle to be developed from the ground up, as the company already offers a five-door configuration in select global markets. Making the move with the next-generation model also does not come as much of a surprise, after product chief Mark Reuss labeled the decision to not bring the current hatchback to the US as a “pre-bankruptcy planning mistake.”

The company recently teased the next-generation Cruze, which will presumably appear first in sedan form. Reuss also has promised that the redesigned model will “blow you away.”

Hatchbacks have experienced limited sales in the US, but the popularity of small crossovers appears to have inspired some automakers to reconsider the omissions. Separate reports suggest Honda is also preparing to launch its European-market Civic in the US after years of absence.

McLaren is reportedly preparing to introduce a new model with a focus on daily-driver and long-haul comfort.
The first model in the company’s entry-level Sports Series, the 570S, is already toned down from the more hardcore 650S and flagship track-focused P1, but the company is said to be working a new coupe with an even more capacious interior than anything in the current lineup.

Referred to as the Gran Turismo, the car will be based upon the same carbon-fiber tub chassis as the 570S and 650S, according to Automobile. It is expected to be immediately recognizable thanks to a larger all-glass roof that brings a fastback profile.

Aside from improving rear visibility, the new roofline is expected to bring additional cargo area behind the headrests. The interior is said to be much more comfort-focused than that of the 570S or 650S.

Despite the cozy interior, the Gran Turismo will allegedly maintain the 570S’ same basic power and handling features. Drivers can expect around 562 horsepower from its 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine.

A concept is said to be on track to debut sometime next year, however a production window remains unclear. Whenever it does arrive, the GT is expected to command a premium over the 570S’ $185,000 price tag.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into allegations of braking problems with the 2013 Dodge Dart.
The agency has received more than a dozen complaints of braking difficulties, sometimes after drivers hear a “pop noise or an air hissing noise when applying the brake pedal,” according to excerpts of the investigation documents published by The Detroit News.

After hearing the noise, some drivers have reported difficulty depressing the brake pedal. The behavior is also said to cause an increase in braking distances, and at least one complainant claims to have experienced a complete failure of the service brakes.

“I feared for my life. It is one of the scariest things I have ever dealt with,” one complaint said. “I am lucky I am able to write this letter to you.”

The investigation comes as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles faces increasing scrutiny for its handling of recalls. The NHTSA has called for a public hearing next month, finding potential improprieties with nearly two dozen recall campaigns. FCA brands also dominated the bottom positions in JD Power’s latest quality survey.

General Motors has announced plans to launch an “all-new vehicle program” at its Orion Assembly plant outside Detroit.
The company did not identify the mystery model, but the project is said to be “unlike any in the plant’s 32-year history.” It will require a $245 million investment and promises to add 300 jobs.

The plant has encountered a bit of trouble this year, with production cuts of its core models: the Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano. Assembly lines have been slowed several times, as sales of both cars slid by 29 percent and 15 percent, respectively, during the first five months of the year.

It is unclear if the upcoming model will be related to the Chevrolet Bolt, which has already been confirmed to be built at the Orion factory. The company is said to be targeting annual sales volume of 25,00 to 30,000 units.

Speculation suggests the Bolt could begin production as early as late 2016, however it is unclear if battery prices will drop far enough within a year to make a business case for a $37,500 (before government incentives) EV with a range of more than 200 miles.