Corroborating recent rumors, a Mazda executive has voiced optimism for a turbocharged RX rotary engine.

Speculation surrounding the RX-8′s anticipated successor suggests the new car, likely labeled the RX-9, could employ twin turbochargers to deliver around 450 horsepower and meet more stringent emissions standards.

“Personally, I think that a rotary with some turbo or compressor would be good,” Mazda drivetrain and powertrain assistant manager Tetsushi Marutani recently told Australia’s Motoring. “Because a rotary, in my opinion, they require more [torque at] low speed, low down torque. So if we have some small compressor or turbo it would help.”

Separate reports claim engineers are working on a unique hybrid-compressor system for the new engine, a dual-rotor 1600cc mill referred to as the ’16X.’ The setup is said to take advantage of an electrically-driven compressor to virtually eliminate lag at low rpm. At higher revs, a traditional exhaust-driven compressor takes over to deliver maximum power.

The company has continued to ramp up its rotary talk after showing the RX-Vision concept (pictured) late last year in Tokyo. Chief executive Masamichi Kogai has hinted that a production car could ride on the same platform that underpins the new MX-5 Miata.

If the engineering team achieves its performance and emissions targets, a production model could be revealed as early as 2017.

Live images by Ben Hsu.

Volkswagen has reportedly delayed its 2015-calendar-year financial disclosures amid ongoing uncertainties surrounding the potential costs of the TDI emissions scandal.

Some automakers attempt to write off estimated losses early in any given crisis, allowing the companies to begin managing the financial fallout before the final costs have been tallied. General Motors used such a strategy when dealing with the ignition-switch crisis, logging billions in estimated recall and litigation costs before the repair campaigns were complete and the victim compensation program had stopped accepting applications.

VW executives are still debating the accounting strategy for the diesel emissions debacle, according to Reuters. The report suggests at least some of the costs may be reflected in the company’s fourth-quarter earnings report.

“Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft will set a new date for the publication of the annual accounts for fiscal year 2015 due to remaining open questions and the resulting valuation calculations relating to the diesel emissions issue,” the company said in a statement to investors. “In this regard, Volkswagen will achieve the best possible transparent and reliable outcome for its shareholders and stakeholders.”

Despite the delay in financial disclosures, the company has reaffirmed its commitment to release findings of its internal investigation by the second half of April.

A second leaked image has given us an early look at the upcoming Aston Martin DB11.

Published by Dutch car-spotting website Autojunk, the picture suggests the DB11 wears an evolutionary design. It looks much sharper and more aggressive than the aging DB9 it’s replacing thanks in part to striking styling cues such as C-shaped tail lamps and vents cut into the front wheel arches, but it’s still instantly recognizable as a member of the Aston lineup.

The DB11 will launch with a brand new, twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter V12 engine that’s expected to make a little over 600 horsepower in its initial state of tune. Buyers who don’t need twelve cylinders will be able to order the DB11 with an Aston-specific version of the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine that powers Mercedes-AMG’s GT and C63. Most models will come with an automatic transmission, but Aston Martin remains committed to offering a manual transmission in the foreseeable future.

Stay tuned, Aston Martin will introduce the DB11 at this year’s Geneva Auto Show. We’ll be on location to bring you live images of it as soon as the veil is lifted.

A low-resolution image leaked out of an ad agency might have prematurely revealed the 2017 Nissan Armada.

While the current Armada rides on the same platform as the last-generation Titan pickup, the upcoming 2017 model is essentially an Americanized version of the Patrol that’s sold in a host of overseas markets. The Patrol is already offered here as the Infiniti QX80, and the two body-on-frame SUVs appear to be all but identical when viewed from the side. Up front, the Armada gains a market-specific grille, a more rugged-looking bumper, and sharper headlights with LED inserts.

Technical details haven’t been leaked, but the nearly 6,000-pound Armada is expected to borrow the bulk of its mechanical components from its Infiniti-badged sibling. That means power will come from a 5.6-liter V8 engine tuned to send 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft. of torque to all four wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission. It will be capable of towing 8,500 pounds, while gas mileage will check in at roughly 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway.

Nissan hasn’t commented on the report. If the rumor turns out to be true, look for the 2017 Armada to bow at a major car show in the coming months and go on sale nationwide before the end of the year.

General Motors’ European Opel division has revealed its updated 2017 Mokka small SUV, giving us an early preview of Buick’s redesigned Encore SUV.

The Buick Encore has been on the market for three years now, which means it’s time for a mid-cycle refresh. Although Buick hasn’t shown us the 2017 Encore just yet, the updated Mokka, which is virtually identical to the Encore, gives us a pretty good idea of what to expect.

Up front the small SUV gains updated headlights with the same sort of LED accents used on the Buick Cascada. The new grille on the Mokka is reminiscent of the unit seen on the Buick Avista show car.

Around back the SUV doesn’t change too much, although the rear taillights have been given a more modern look with what look to be LED elements.

The interior of the Mokka has also been given a thorough overhaul that should make it stateside in the Encore. A new center stack ditches most of the Encore’s buttons and a newly integrated center screen adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

Under hood look for the Buick Encore to carry on with a pair of 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engines.

No word on when Buick will introduce the 2017 Encore, but the 2017 Opel Mokka will make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

Another industry-wide airbag defect has emerged, leading to recalls for millions of vehicles.

The latest problem relates to airbag control units produced by supplier Continental Automotive Systems. Malfunction can lead to a wide range of system failures, involving either the airbags or other safety features.

“If the air bag control unit fails, safety systems such as seat belt pretensioners and air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury,” the recall documents warn. “Additionally, in some vehicles, the air bags may inadvertently deploy, increasing the risk of a crash.”

The first signs of trouble trace back to 2008 when Continental dissected an airbag control unit from a Daimler vehicle. Subsequent investigation found that corrosion had affected the unit’s ASIC chip, causing it to malfunction.

The issue affects approximately five million vehicles. Initial recall announcements focus on the 2009 Dodge Journey; the 2008-2009 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country; the 2009 Volkswagen Routan; and the 2008-2010 Honda Accord.

Audi has unveiled a more powerful version of the RS Q3 called performance ahead of its public debut at next month’s Geneva Auto Show.

The “performance” moniker denotes that the Q3 has been fitted with a 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine that develops 367 horsepower — 27 more than the stock RS Q3 — and 343 lb-ft. of torque from 1,625 to 5,550 rpm. The extra power sends the RS Q3 performance from zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 167 mph. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission transfers the five-cylinder’s power to all four wheels via Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system.

The RS Q3 also benefits from a sport suspension that’s lower and firmer than stock. Visually, it gains titanium-look trim on both ends, bigger air vents up front, a gloss black grille insert, a bigger air diffuser built into the rear bumper, and it rides on dark gray 20-inch alloy wheels. The cabin features a specific instrument cluster with gray faces, white dials, and red needles, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, as well as black leather upholstery with blue contrast stitching.

The Audi RS Q3 performance is on sale now in Germany with a base price of €61,000, a sum that converts to over $68,000. Audi hasn’t revealed whether its newest RS-badged model will be offered on our shores.

Paris-based Renault has traveled to the New Delhi Auto Show in India to unveil a pair of concepts called Kwid Racer and Kwid Climber, respectively.

Both models are based on the Kwid, a entry-level city car developed specifically for India. The Climber takes the form of a crossover that wears a more rugged looking front fascia with chrome accents, protective black plastic trim over the wheel arches, a roof rack, and skid plates on both ends. It rides much taller than the standard Kwid thanks to a lifted suspension and high-profile tires.

The racer model gains a deeper front bumper with a large air dam, 18-inch alloy wheels, shaved rear door handles, and a full carbon fiber body kit that includes a splitter up front, side skirts, a roof-mounted spoiler, and an air diffuser built into the rear bumper. Inside, Renault has removed the rear seats, and installed a roll cage as well as bucket seats with four-point harnesses for the front passengers.

Renault hasn’t published technical details yet. The stock Kwid is offered with either a 0.8-liter three-cylinder or a bigger 1.0-liter unit. The 0.8 is only offered with a five-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive, while the 1.0 can be ordered with a newly-available automatic transmission at an extra cost.

Renault hasn’t revealed what the future holds for either concept.

Ford has outlined a restructuring plan for its European operations, aiming to further reinforce profits in 2016 and beyond.

The region posted its first annual profit in 2015 after three years of losses on the continent. A 10-percent sales increase brought Ford’s European financials back into the black, while elevating the Blue Oval to claim the title of best-selling commercial vehicle brand.

“In the past three years, Ford of Europe has improved its business in all areas and moved from deep losses to a $259 million profit in 2015,” said Ford Europe executive vice president Jim Farley. “We are absolutely committed to accelerating our transformation, taking the necessary actions to create a vibrant business that’s solidly profitable in both good times and down cycles.”

The automaker already closed three manufacturing facilities in Western Europe since 2013 to trim costs. The latest strategy involves a voluntary separation program, potentially saving another $200 million annually.

Perhaps most importantly, the company plans to eliminate “less profitable vehicles” from its European lineup in the coming years. The trimming will not affect launch plans for seven new or refreshed models this year, ranging from the Focus RS to the Kuga and Edge SUVs.

“SUVs remain Europe’s fastest-growing market segment, and Ford expects to surpass 200,000 SUV sales in Europe for the first time in 2016 – a growth of more than 30 percent compared with 2015,” the restructuring statement notes.

The company also plans to expand its ‘Vignale‘ luxury sub-brand, starting with the Mondeo before adding the S-Max and three other models by 2017. Performance cars will also be maintained as the Mustang completes its first year of availability in the region. At the other end of the spectrum, new plug-in hybrid and pure electric vehicles will arrive before the end of the decade.

“We are creating a more exciting and distinctive Ford line-up in Europe,” Farley added. “When we play to our strengths, we can compete and win in Europe – even against premium brands.”