Acura’s Encore? Concept SUV-X Small Crossover Debuts for China [2013 Shanghai Auto Show]

Unlike its parent company Honda’s oddball Shanghai reveals, Acura’s lone debut was neither strange nor particularly bad-looking. (Honda’s trio of vehicles unveiled in China—one concept and two production cars—were pretty hit or miss, to say the least.) Instead, Acura’s Concept SUV-X is a rather sharp little SUV that the brand intends to build and sell in China within three years. Although the SUV-X previews a production model designed with China in mind, Acura says the tall wagon will be a global small SUV, meaning it could ultimately show up here.

Unfortunately, Acura did not reveal what powers the SUV-X or even exactly how big it is. Luckily, a few photos from the crossover’s Shanghai debut show it with people standing nearby, lending at least a modicum of scale. Given that most of the people in the photos are taller than the SUV-X, we’re guessing that it’s pretty small. In fact, proportionally, we think it has a lot in common with the Honda Urban SUV concept from this year’s Detroit auto show. The Honda Urban SUV is Fit-based, and thus smaller than the CR-V, as well as Acura’s architecturally similar RDX.

Also like the Urban SUV concept, the Acura SUV-X is attractive, with a pleasant mixture of curves and sharp edges. We especially like the rear-end treatment, which is aggressive and unique, even if there are a few more creases than are necessary. The squared-off roofline seemingly is pulled right off of the 2014 MDX, and lends the small rig a formal and luxurious appearance. Finally, and most important, the SUV-X’s decorative grille slat is an incredible step forward—stylistically, that is—for Acura, whose corporate mug of late is too beaky and shield-like for our taste.

With the latest RDX watered down, less turbocharged, and fairly conventional-looking, Acura could use a zesty, less-expensive small crossover to lure in hip young buyers. The SUV-X, therefore, could be the brand’s exciting Buick Encore alternative, either in China—where Buick is extremely popular—or here. We wouldn’t hold our breath considering the SUV-X won’t even hit China for another three years. But a tiny entry-luxury crossover would be a shrewd addition to Acura’s U.S. lineup and give Honda further economies of scale for its next-generation Fit platform, which also will underpin a tiny Honda SUV and a sedan.

Volkswagen Teams Up with Apple to Gift Mac-Loving Boomers the 2014 iBeetle [2013 Shanghai Auto Show]

Ford’s Back in the Escort Business: Concept Debuts in China [2013 Shanghai Auto Show]

Ron Howard’s New Movie, Rush, Recreates One of F1′s Greatest Driver Battles—Lauda vs. Hunt

As F1 racing stages a comeback here in the States—this season it’s on NBC Sports, not to mention the new track down in Austin, Texas—along comes a movie about the sport that could move it closer to the forefront of the public’s mind. From none other than director Ron Howard comes a new flick, Rush, about the epic 1976 driver battle between Niki Lauda and James Hunt for the Formula 1 world championship. Now, we’re a lot better suited for reviewing cars than movies, but based on the trailer for Rush, it’s looking like a must-see for any race fan.

Hunt is played by Chris Hemsworth and Lauda by Daniel Brühl, while Olivia Wilde and Natalie Dormer also are in the mix. The ’76 season was characterized by Hunt and Lauda’s on-track rivalry, which at one point saw Lauda nearly killed at the Nürburgring. We’re just spitballing here, but our bet is that with detail-oriented Ron Howard at its helm, Rush should be far better to watch than the only other non-documentary open-wheel racing movie in recent (we reiterate, recent) memory, Driven. That movie had Sylvester Stallone in a lead role, so, yeah. It will be interesting to see whether Rush turns out better than 2010′s Senna, the excellent documentary that chronicled the life and premature death of F1 prodigy Ayrton Senna. Check the trailer out for yourself below and let us know what you think in the comments section:

Bugatti Teases High-Performance Hangar Doors—Or Possibly a Car

Cue dramatic music—Bugatti has released a preview image of . . . a pair of aircraft hangar doors slightly ajar. Okay, so that’s just the cutesie image Bugatti posted to its Facebook page, but it was accompanied by the promise that “the latest example of exceptional Bugatti performance” is on its way. It’s not clear whether the next big thing from Bugatti is even a car; rampant speculation within the Car and Driver office pegs it as anything from a Bugatti Edition Gulfstream V jet to the fastest-opening, highest-horsepower production doors of all time, or perhaps a high-performance cargo dolly developed specifically for use in that giant warehouse where the government keeps the Ark of the Covenant.

More likely, however, is that the next expression of exceptional Bugatti performance is the rumored replacement for the Veyron Super Sport. Speculation persists that the Super Sport’s successor will pack upward of 1600 horsepower in an effort to return the production-car speed record to Bugatti—recently lost to Hennessey’s Venom GT. It’s just as probable, though, that the French marque will reveal some kind of special-edition Veyron model. The Veyron is on its way out, meaning Bugatti’s got to keep churning out limited-edition rides to keep the car’s already high profile, uh, high. The Shanghai auto show kicks off this week, so Bugatti could be previewing a China-centric special edition. (We’d list all of the unique Veyron variants that have spawned in the past few years, but it’s far easier to direct you to search “Bugatti Veyron” on our site.) There’s a slim chance Bugatti could be rolling out its four-seat, ultra-expensive Veyron successor, but it’s not likely. Well, neither is a Bugatti-branded private jet—even if it does make tons of sense.

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Mercedes-Benz Chooses Garmin as Integrated Navigation-System Partner

Navigation provider Garmin has announced that it will furnish future Mercedes-Benz in-car navigation systems, much in the same way that it provides map software for Chrysler’s Uconnect infotainment setup. Garmin states that over the next four years, its navigation software will proliferate throughout Benz’s global model portfolio, and that besides offering up map data and turn-by-turn directions, its setup will provide “critical positioning information for Advanced Driver Assistance” functions.

It’s pretty safe to assume that the integration of Garmin tech into Benz dashboards won’t involve a suction-cup mount and a cable running to the cigarette lighter. Instead, the setup should roughly mirror that of Chrysler’s Garmin integration—the infotainment screen (in this case, Mercedes-Benz’s COMAND setup) will simply utilize Garmin maps and data, although hopefully the graphics are more updated than those in Uconnect. (Chrysler’s version looks like an off-the-shelf Garmin unit was zapped into its infotainment system with no changes, although it works intuitively.) Turn-by-turn directions will be available in a secondary gauge-cluster display, as well.

Automakers increasingly are turning to companies like Garmin for their navigation systems, which at first might seem odd given that only a few years ago, such companies represented a form of competition. In the early days of in-car navigation options, aftermarket navigation providers like Garmin and TomTom offered (and still do) inexpensive, reliable systems that could be fitted to the windshield or dashboard of any car. Automakers, on the other hand, often charged a ton of money for their complicated, finicky in-dash setups. Now, the hardware required to run complex infotainment functions like navigation costs less and is more homogeneous, and automakers don’t need bespoke software anymore. Instead, they can buy the software from specialists like Garmin and integrate it into their infotainment suites.

Besides the Garmin/Chrysler and Garmin/Mercedes-Benz mashups, Garmin also recently provided Suzuki with an entire infotainment system. Mazda currently utilizes TomTom software to run its in-dash navigation functionality, as does Lexus’s CT200h hybrid in Europe. Interestingly, Tom Tom recently announced that it will be providing Mercedes-Benz with real-time traffic info in Europe; the traffic updates will display via Benz’s COMAND infotainment system. The TomTom overlap is a bit odd, but the brand provides a bevy of automakers with its traffic-update tech overseas. It also shows that navigation providers don’t seem to mind who licenses their tech—like all good businesses, the fact that automakers are paying up for them likely is all that counts.

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Subaru WRX Concept: The Next-Gen Rally Rocket Is Smokin’ Hot [2013 New York Auto Show]

Kia Reveals Wonder Woman–Inspired Sportage, It’s Disappointingly Visible [2013 New York Auto Show]

Kia’s efforts to raise awareness for the We Can Be Heroes giving campaign to fight hunger in Africa has thus far produced six DC Comics–inspired custom Kia show cars. At the 2013 New York auto show, the automaker revealed the seventh car, a Sportage crossover dedicated to Wonder Woman. The Sportage follows the Superman Optima hybrid, Batman Optima, The Flash Forte Koup, Aquaman Rio5, Green Lantern Soul, and Cyborg Forte five-door.

But back to the Wonder Woman Sportage; Kia, working with DC Entertainment and Super Street magazine, fitted the crossover with a body kit, a stars-and-stripes paint job derived from Wonder Woman’s outfit, and star-like five-spoke wheels. Wonder Woman’s signature chest shield logo is integrated into the Sportage’s grille opening, the gold trim smattered about the crossover’s body is a reference to Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth—her weapon of choice—and the headlights are tinged with blue as a nod to the hero’s eye color. Finally, Kia slapped a sticker across the top of the windshield that mimics Wonder Woman’s tiara. So this Sportage has a tiara.

Inside, the unique Sportage gets red upholstery and blue LED lighting to match the exterior theme, and the seats are embroidered with Wonder Woman’s logo. It’s all for a good cause, and we’re pleased to see Kia turn out such thoroughly worked-over rides to raise awareness. Although if they really wanted to save some time, they could have simply paid tribute to Wonder Woman’s invisible plane and pulled the sheet off of . . . nothing.

2014 Dodge Durango Debuts: Even More Brash, Plus New Tech and Eight-Speed Auto [2013 New York Auto Show]

2014 Hyundai Equus: Cleaner Looks, More Stuff, Same Brawny V-8 [2013 New York Auto Show]

2014 Kia Soul Revealed With More Refinement, Style, Hamster-Friendliness [2013 New York Auto Show]

2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid: Subtract V-6, Add Supercharged Four and Electric Motor [2013 New York Auto Show]

Mercedes-Benz Debuts 2014 B-class Electric Drive [2013 New York Auto Show]

Volkswagen Details U.S.-Spec 2015 Golf and GTI Powertrains [2013 New York Auto Show]

When Volkswagen debuted the seventh-generation, 2015 Golf at the last year’s Paris auto show and the 2015 GTI at the Geneva show earlier this year, the automaker tantalizingly revealed nearly everything about both rides. That is, everything except final engine options for the U.S. market. Oh sure, VW furnished European powertrain specifications for both rides, but despite the latest Golf and GTI being still about a year away from going on sale here in the U.S., we’re an impatient bunch—after all, the Golf and GTI are among our favorite compacts. Thankfully, the wait is over for U.S.-spec powertrain info, which Volkswagen has announced at the 2013 New York auto show.

While the European Golf offers a host of gas and diesel engines, the U.S. model will offer just two: A turbocharged, gas-fed 1.8-liter four and a 2.0-liter diesel four. The 1.8-liter makes the same 170 horsepower as the outgoing Golf’s inline-five it replaces, but seven more lb-ft of torque. Once again, the diesel will be dropped into the Golf TDI, but this time around it’s an all-new engine. Compared to the current Golf TDI’s 2.0-liter four, the new engine—which is a member of VW’s new EA288 engine family—produces the same 236 lb-ft of torque, but 10 additional horsepower, for a total of 150. Volkswagen’s specificity regarding the regular Golf’s transmission choices starts and ends with the promise that both manual and automatic options will be offered; gear counts and the type of automatic weren’t detailed. We’re betting that we get either the Euro model’s seven- or six-speed dual-clutch auto.

As for our favorite hot hatchback, the GTI, it will get the same turbocharged, 2.0-liter four as the Euro model. Only our version will make slightly less horsepower, with VW’s initial estimates coming in around 210 ponies. Before you start bellyaching about how Americans always get the short end of the stick, consider that at least the 2015 GTI will make the same 258 lb-ft of torque as the Euro model. The outgoing U.S.-spec GTI packs 200 horses and 207 lb-ft and is hardly a slouch; factor in the newest model’s slight weight loss, and it should be quicker than before. Regardless, the last-gen GTI was down a few horsepower to its European counterpart, too, so any anguish over missing output shouldn’t be a surprise. Once again, a six-speed manual or dual-clutch automatic transmission will be offered.

Finally, Volkswagen gave no further indication of expected fuel economy for any 2015 Golf derivative, or whether it plans to bring the latest GTD—effectively a diesel-powered GTI—to the States. (We suspect it will make it here.) As for the possible next-generation Jetta SportWagen, well, look no further than the 2015 Volkswagen Golf Variant; we expect that here in the U.S. it will be powered by the same 1.8-liter four or 2.0-liter diesel as the Golf.

Image Leak! Again! Subaru’s Tasty WRX Concept Spills Forth [2013 New York Auto Show]

Well, lookie here, another big New York auto show debutante has been leaked ahead of the show, and this time it’s the Subaru WRX concept. (Earlier this week we were given an early glimpse at the 2014 Cadillac CTS sedan.) The images appear to have originated on the French site Blog Automobile, and show the WRX concept completely uncovered and in full blue glory.

Just as we suspected, the next WRX—shoul dit stay true to this concept version—makes a significant break visually from the Impreza, a model it’s previously been closely based upon. The concept features bodywork that shares nothing with Subaru’s compact car, and features a low, coupe-like roofline, sleek headlights, C-shaped taillights, and a low-set grille. Those beastly fender bulges aren’t far from what’s offered on today’s wide-body WRX, and they’re nicely integrated on the WRX concept’s four-door form.

Speaking of four-door, we hope the next WRX returns in both sedan and five-door hatchback forms, but we’ll have to wait and see what Subaru has up its sleeve in that regard. We do know that the car will be powered by a 2.0-liter turbo four, as will the uprated STI variant. (Blog Automobile’s report also mentioned an electrically powered turbo. If true, this could greatly minimize turbo lag by allowing the blower to spool up extra fast.) We’ll have full info and more photos of the WRX concept later this week following its official debut in New York, but until then, feast your eyes on the hot compact here.

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Acura Debuting Production-Ready 2014 MDX Crossover in New York [2013 New York Auto Show]

Acura is ready to reveal the redesigned 2014 MDX crossover, and it has chosen the 2013 New York auto show as the venue to do so. We’ve essentially already seen the latest MDX at the 2013 Detroit auto show earlier this year, but it was officially labeled a “concept.” The production version should look identical, save for a few toned-down fascia elements and smaller wheels.

The new MDX will get a bit longer to better serve the second- and third-row occupants, and returns with V-6 power and Acura’s torque-vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive. A front-drive version is new for 2014, and a full complement of safety technologies will be on offer. You can find more of what to expect in our coverage of the MDX concept, and full information will be released next week after the production version debuts in New York.