A trademark filing discovered Monday points to the potential production of an electrified Corvette model dubbed the “E Ray.”

The filing was spotted by Chris Doane Automotive, who posted a screenshot of the approval on Facebook. Doane speculated that mid-engined Corvette showcased by Car & Driver last year and thought to be a ZR1 replacement could perhaps instead be a hybrid.

While the filing only covers “Motor land vehicles, namely, automobiles,” and gives no details as to the configuration, the name “E Ray” certainly conjures images of either an all-electric or electric-assisted Corvette. Whether the electrified model would be based on a front- or mid-engined variant of the iconic American sports car is anybody’s guess.

A mid-engined, battery-powered Corvette could potentially have the likes of the Audi R8 e-tron in its sights.

Previous filings, such as “Manta Ray” and “Zora” have sparked rumors of other forthcoming Corvette family members, but to date, this is one of the more explicit (and likely self-explanatory) potential nameplates since, unlike “Zora,” the Corvette moniker is included.

The original entry in the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s TESS system is visible to the public.

Subaru has shed light on its plans to ramp up production as demand continues to soar in the US and other markets.

The Japanese automaker in May achieved its sixth consecutive record-breaking fiscal year, hitting its North America sales goal a full five years ahead of schedule. Sales are still brisk, requiring the company to quickly increase production volumes to avoid shortages.

“If we have to increase production capacity, it will be in the U.S. because that is where the demand is,” said Yasuyuki Yoshinaga, president of Subaru parent Fuji Heavy Industries, according to Automotive News.

Approximately a quarter of Subaru’s Lafeyette, Indiana, factory capacity is currently allocated to the Toyota Camry. Subaru will cease Camry production late next year, however, freeing up 100,000 additional units in annual production capacity. Additional expansions are expected to bring output up to 394,000 units — nearly double current levels.

The company is said to be investing an additional $140 million in Indiana, after committing $400 million to add 100,000 units of production capacity by 2016. The plant is expected to hire an additional 1,200 workers, bringing the total workforce up to around 5,000 employees.

The 2016 expansion plan will involve production lines for the Legacy, Outback and Impreza, while a new three-row crossover will be built at the factory in 2018. The company is expected to announce revised sales targets when it discloses its fiscal full-year financial results in May.

BMW has admitted to failing to responded to a safety defect in its MINI line of vehicles in a timely manner and will pay a $10 million fine to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as the result of its non-compliance.

BMW’s Consent Order with the NHTSA stems from a failed September crash test of the MINI Cooper Hardtop S. Although the standard version of the hatchback passed the government’s crash tests, the sportier S model failed the side-impact portion of the NHTSA’s safety evaluation.

The MINI Cooper Hardtop was recalled for the same issue in December of 2014, prompting the NHTSA’s investigation for non-compliance.

As part of the settlement, BMW will pay a $10 million fine to the NHTSA and also spend another $10 million to improve its internal processes and technologies for detecting possible safety issues. BMW must also put up another $20 million in abeyance until the NHTSA is satisfied that the company has completed its Consent Order. The settlement also includes an admission of guilt on BMW’s part.

The Consent Order will remain in place for the next two-years, with the NHTSA holding the option to extend it by an additional year.

When the original Subaru Forester launched in 1998, it was somewhat of a square peg in a round hole. Body-on-frame SUVs ruled the day, with few consumers clamoring for a utility vehicle that was essentially a tall station wagon with all-wheel drive.

But the last two decades have shown that the Forester was simply ahead of the curve rather than some oddball idea. Car-based crossovers are now the hottest vehicles in the entire industry, with big, lumbering four-by-fours all but relegated to the annals of automotive history.

But can one of the grandfathers of the crossover segment still hang with the young bucks that have popped up over the last few years? Come with us as we find out.

What is it?
Now in its fourth-generation, the Forester is Subaru’s entrant into the fiercely competitive compact crossover segment.

Unlike the original Forester from 1998, the latest 2016 Forester, which was totally redesigned in 2014, features exterior styling that is more SUV-like than traditional station wagon. However, the Forester still retains a tall greenhouse that was a staple of the original.

The Forester is available in six different trims with two available boxer-four engines, but our 2.0XT Touring model represents the top of the heap. The 2.0XT Touring includes nice upgrades like a turbocharged engine and standard leather seating.

Not a whole lot has changed since the Forester was introduced a few years ago, but the 2016 model does usher in an upgraded head unit for Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system.

What’s it up against?
The Subaru Forester competes directly with vehicles like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Rogue. However, few rivals can match the power of the 2.0XT’s turbocharged engine, meaning this particular trim of the Forester has few natural rivals.

How does it look?
The Forester 2.0XT is much more aggressive looking than its 2.5i counterparts thanks to a front end that features a large lower air inlet and distinct sculpting incorporated into the corners of its front bumper. LED headlight accents also give the 2.0XT a distinct look at night.

The 2016 Forester sports a sharply-raked windshield, but the rest of the CUV’s styling is pretty much a typical two-box design. As mentioned previously, the Forester has a tall greenhouse with plenty of glass, making outward visibility a strong suit of this compete ‘ute.

Being the sportiest Forester available, the 2.0XT does come with a few extra bling items, including 18-inch wheels and dual chrome exhaust outlets.

And the inside?
Anyone familiar with Subaru’s latest Impreza models will feel right at home behind the wheel of the Forester. Controls on the Forester’s center stack are logically arranged, with chunky dials making the HVAC system particularly simple to operate. Even the new touchscreen infotainment system has easy-to-use knobs for volume and tuning controls.

But even when you delve into the digital interface of the new Starlink system, everything remains easy to use. The 7-inch screen is clear and is generally receptive to inputs. The only real issue we came across was during the boot-up process. Sometimes it would take upwards of a minute before we were able to use the voice control for things like changing the radio station.

Sitting atop the Forester’s dash is a pair of hooded LCD screens. The monotone screen on the left side serves as the readout for the HVAC system, while a multi-color screen is used for auxiliary readout such as instant MPG. For those interested in the 2.0XT’s sportier side, the color LCD screen can display things like boost pressure and g-forces.

The Forester’s main instrument binnacle features a pair of dials for the tach and speedometer, with a center-mounted LCD screen handling fuel and other trip functions. Steering wheel controls are available for voice activation, Bluetooth phone calls and for our test car’s optional EyeSight adaptive cruise control.

Similar to the Outback, the Forester has an X-Mode button located just in front of the shift lever in the center console. Intended for use when the going gets tough, X-Mode optimizes the Forester’s all-wheel drive system and drivetrain for rugged terrain. The system also includes a hill decent function.

The Forester’s front seats are reasonably comfortable with a bit of bolstering, just in case you want to tap into its turbocharged engine and sport-tuned suspension. However, we’d appreciate a little more contouring that would help with long-distance comfort. Back seat room is generous with enough of space for two or three adults.

Although the Forester’s interior is user-friendly on the whole, it’s not without its flaws. For example, the rear cup holder in the center console is useless if the center armrest is extended forward — you’ll either have tell your passenger to leave the latte at home or be prepared to have a dangling arm. And the storage bin under that armrest isn’t very roomy. While the center storage unit in the Honda CR-V is large enough to swallow a purse, you’d be lucky to fit a small handbag in the under-armrest cubby in the Forester.

Other gripes include a speedometer that’s too tightly spaced to easily read at a glance and an interior design that’s already starting to feel behind the times. Given its sticker price, which is north of $36,000, we’d also like to see nicer materials used throughout the Forester 2.0XT Touring’s interior.

But does it go?
Some styling tweaks aside, there is only one real reason why anyone would consider the turbocharged Forester 2.0XT — for the way it drives.

Unlike the vast majority of the compact utility segment (and even the Forester 2.5i, for that matter), the Forester 2.0XT packs a potent turbocharged engine. Though displacing just 2.0-liters, the boxer-four cranks out a healthy 250 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The lone transmission choice is unfortunately a CVT, but Subaru’s unit is at least one of the better ones out there.

The Forester 2.0XT also benefits from a sportier suspension setup and Subaru’s signature all-wheel drive, in this case with Active Torque Split. The Forester 2.0XT rides on semi-low-profile tires mounted on 18-inch wheels.

As a result of those performance upgrades, the Forester 2.0XT drives very much like a tall WRX. Acceleration isn’t quite rally-car fast, but the Forester 2.0XT feels strong off the line thanks to its 258 lb-ft of torque, which comes on at a relatively low 2,000rpm. Darting through city traffic is a breeze behind the wheel of the turbocharged Forester. On the highway, the Forester delivers better passing power than rivals like the Honda CR-V and even the sport-minded Mazda CX-5.

The Forester 2.0XT can also hold its own when the road turns twisty. A Sport setting is available to sharpen the Forester’s throttle response while Sport Sharp, indicated by a S# on the steering wheel, cranks things up a little more. The sportier modes include a program to tell the CVT to act like a six- or eight-speed transmission, giving the Forester the feel of a more conventional vehicle. Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters are even included to help perpetuate the gearing farce.

Steering is quick and accurate with a decent amount of road feel. On-center feel is a little vague, but that’s to be expected in this class. Subaru’s all-wheel drive instills a little extra confidence as you hustle the Forester’s 3,450 pound frame down your favorite backroad.

When not bombing down a two-lane, the Forester delivers a quite ride that’s slightly firm yet still comfortable. Our tester was equipped with Subaru’s excellent EyeSight system, which uses twin cameras mounted at the top of the windshield for adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning. Unlike a few other systems on the market, EyeSight currently lacks the ability to steer you back in your lane, but we hear that capability will soon be added.

Although we didn’t venture off the beaten path, the Forester 2.0XT promises to be an above average off-roader thanks to its 8.7-inches of ground clearance and X-Mode function. We sampled Subaru’s X-Mode during our initial evaluation of the latest Outback and came away impressed with its ability to traverse steep and rocky terrain.

Fuel economy isn’t, however, a Forester 2.0XT strong suit. The EPA rates the Forester 2.0XT at 19mpg in the city and 25mpg on the highway, netting a combined rating of 21mpg. Our on-board computer showed a week-long average of 20.7mpg.

Leftlane’s bottom line
Just like the original, the 2016 Forester 2.0XT remains somewhat of an oddity, offering performance in a segment that largely sells on fuel economy. And that notion is reflected by the XT’s sale — although Subaru sells a boatload of Foresters these days, only about 10 percent of those sales are made up by the turbocharged XT.

So if you’re part of the minority that’s willing to sacrifice MPGs for a little F-U-N, the Forester 2.0XT, and its $3,000 premium, could be the vehicle for you. If you’ve never thought about 0-60 times a day in your life, you’ll likely be better offer with the cheaper and more efficient Forester 2.5i.

2016 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring base price, $33,795. As tested, $36,040.
Navigation+EyeSight, $1,395; Destination, $850.

Photos by Drew Johnson.

BMW’s M division has published the first video in a five-part series dedicated to its best-selling nameplate, the M3.

Appropriately, the initial video focuses on the E30 M3. The first generation was built for Group A Touring Car racing, despite BMW’s doubts surrounding potential demand for the street car. The coupe quickly proved a formidable vehicle both on the track and in showrooms.

Before later models switched to an inline six, the E30 was powered by a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 195 horsepower. Later ‘Evolution’ variants bumped output up to 238 ponies, and all builds weighed under 3,000 pounds.

“The BMW M3 of the first generation is a legend. It influenced all following M3 generations,” the company notes. “Moreover the BMW M3 was the most successful Touringcar ever.”

BMW’s next four videos in the series presumably focus in the next four generations of the M3/M4 family, starting with the E36 chassis that debuted in 1992.

Images leaked out of a Russian patent office have given us an early look at the second generation of the Chevrolet Niva.

Designed largely for the Russian market, the new Niva is essentially a toned-down version of the Niva concept that made its official debut over a year ago at the Moscow Motor Show. It looks markedly more modern than the outdated-yet-rugged current model thanks in part to a muscular-looking front end that falls in line with Chevrolet’s current design language and sculpted sides.

Media outlets in Russia speculate the Niva will offer about 120 horsepower, but whether it will use a 1.6-liter four-cylinder or a 1.8-liter unit is up in the air at this point. Regardless, the four-banger will spin all four wheels via a manual transmission.

Chevrolet will begin building the Niva in Togliatti, Russia, in the next few weeks, and the SUV will land in showrooms across Russia shortly after. Chevrolet is not planning on selling the Niva in the United States, and the off-roader won’t be sold in Europe because the brand will leave the Old Continent in a little over a week.

Niva etymology
The current generation of the Chevrolet Niva is a distant relative of the Lada Niva, an old-fashioned, function-over-form off-roader born 37 years ago when Russian officials asked engineers to create “a Renault 5 on a Land Rover chassis.” Still distributed in Europe and in Russia, the original Niva will likely stick around long enough to celebrate its 40th birthday but the new Chevrolet Niva shares no parts with the eponymous Lada.

Honda is developing a Si-badged version of the tenth-generation Civic, and a new report sheds insight into what we can expect from it when it lands.

The next Civic Si will be powered by a de-tuned version of the 2.0-liter turbo four found under the hood of the current-generation Type R. The Si’s four-banger will make approximately 230 horsepower — 25 more than today’s model but roughly 70 less than the Type R — and it will be bolted to a six-speed manual transmission that will spin the front wheels.

A report published on enthusiast forum CivicX claims Honda will sell the tenth-gen Civic as a coupe, as a sedan (pictured), and as a hatchback in every market, but whether all three body styles will get a Si-branded model hasn’t been confirmed yet. Honda has time to make up its mind because the new Civic hatchback hasn’t been introduced yet, and the Si isn’t expected to land until late next year at the earliest.

What’s next?
Enthusiasts who want more than 230 horsepower will need to wait until the next generation of the Type R is introduced during the first half of 2017. Technical details for the range-topping model in the Civic lineup haven’t been announced yet, but recent rumors claim that Honda is developing it with the United States market in mind.

Photos by Drew Johnson.

Volkswagen insiders have revealed that production of the 13-year old Phaeton flagship is scheduled to end next March.

Volkswagen of America dropped the Phaeton from its lineup after the 2006 model year due to dismal sales, but the sedan is still sold in China, where it recently benefited from a slew of minor updates, and across Europe, where it typically costs more than a comparably-sized Audi A8. Sales are alarmingly low in both regions, and only about eight examples roll out of the glass-walled factory in Dresden, Germany, each day.

Once it builds the very last Phaeton, the Dresden factory will be shut down for about a year and completely overhauled. Sources close to Volkswagen told trade journal Automotive News that the factory will be given a new model to build once it re-opens, though they didn’t reveal what it will be.

Volkswagen won’t remain without a flagship sedan for very long. The Wolfsburg-based car maker is in the early stages of developing a brand new Phaeton that’s tentatively scheduled to go on sale globally in late 2019 as a 2020 model. Volkswagen recently hinted its next flagship — which might not be called Phaeton — will be offered exclusively with an all-electric drivetrain, and rumors indicate it will share its platform with the production version of the Audi e-tron quattro concept.

Note: Chinese-spec 2016 Phaeton pictured.