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Latest by Nick Jaynes

Hybrid sales quietly accelerate by 32 percent but still only account for 4 percent of new car sales

Spurred on by higher gas prices and a diversified hybrid market, buyers seem to be warming to the once bizarre technology.

EV ‘gas stations?’ ZAP designs robot-controlled battery swapping for its EV SUV

Rather than waiting eight hours for your EV to recharge, you could simply have a robot flop out the battery in around six minutes.

GM touts big investment in new engine and transmission tech, keeps mum on details

The former world-leading automaker is happy to tell us how much it’s spending on new engine and transmission technologies.

Volkswagen ponders bringing a few 261mpg XL1s to the U.S., uncertain of legality

Unsure of laws surrounding limited production cars, Volkswagen ponders shipping a few of the 261mpg XL1s to the U.S.

Land Rover plans diesel/hybrid Range Rover, even more lux Discovery model

Land Rover has some great ideas around in its corporate hierarchical head. But it’s got some bad ones, too.

Rolls-Royce goes all Art Deco in Hong Kong

With a special paint job and exclusive interior trim, Rolls-Royce has made a unique vehicle with little extra cost for a market dying for distinction.

The 1947 Tama: Nissan’s first electric vehicle was an innovation showcase

The beige rudimentary predecessor to the LEAF was born from necessity.

Porsche returns to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a wild new 911 RSR racecar

Powered by a 4.0-liter flat six-cylinder, the new 911 RSR features lightweight, easily removable carbon fiber paneling and a lightweight sequential gearbox.

Porsche turns up the power on the 918 hybrid, taking on McLaren and Ferrari

The 918 supercar will go 93 miles in an electric-only mode and round the Nurburgring in about seven minutes.

Diesel BMW 328d xDrive Sports Wagon headed to the U.S. for 2014

The BMW diesel Sport Wagon announcement comes with good and bad news.

2015 Subaru BRZ: all-wheel drive, twin-turbo diesel hybrid convertible to silence critics

Subaru has smartly taken all suggestions received from the automotive media on its next-generation BRZ model and folded them into one breath-taking model.

No Joke: Tesla exceeds sales expectations but cancels entry-level model due to poor demand

In spite of the April first date, Tesla has seriously announced that its 40 kWh battery pack won’t go into production.

The TORQ Roadster: ‘The World’s Fastest Three-Wheeled Electric Vehicle’?

If you love track days, EVs, and have $65,000 to spend, you can have one of 50 TORQ Roadsters scheduled to be built this year.

NY Auto Show Preview: New Camaro revealed on talk show ahead of New York debut

The 2014 Camaro marks the first refresh in the fifth generation and one Chevy hopes will bolster sales. From our standpoint, the update is a little too subdued.

Mr. Trump, your truck is ready: Dartz tricks out the already over-the-top Mercedes G63 AMG 6X6

Extreme off-roading has never before looked so gaudy.

Did Mercedes accidentally reveal a plug-in hybrid S-Class to the Australians?

While a world-class, bespoke range-extended plug-in hybrid EV S-Class sounds like a good idea, would anyone actually buy it?

Might the next Ariel Atom open-wheel street-legal race car be built from Titanium?

British track-car maker Ariel is considering using the high-strength, lightweight metal in its next Atom model.

Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix: Highlights, lowlights and disobeying team orders

Vettel and Webber battle for first while Hamilton forgets for which team he races.

NY Auto Show Preview: 2014 Cadillac CTS pictures leaked

Powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 producing 420 horsepower and new, refined lines, the 2014 CTS just might give the new Mercedes E-Class a run for its money.

Maybe the 2015 Ford Mustang won’t be an Evos rip-off after all

Like it or not, the 2015 Mustang might keep some retro lines but add a four-cylinder to the mix.

Italian coachbuilder Icona to unveil one-off 900-horsepower supercar at Shanghai Auto Show

Called the Vulcano, the V12-powered, 900-horsepower one-off supercar has been made to show off what Italian coachbuilder Icona can do.

Toyota announces GT 86 Cup Edition – for Europe only. But…

Toyota is only making 86 of the special edition GT 86s and they’re all going to Europe.

Jay Leno takes you for a drive in his 240hp 1962 Maserati 3500 GTi

At $13,000 in 1962, the Maserati 3500 GTi cost more than double what a brand-new Corvette went for at the time.

Ford’s Euro-legal 1.0-liter EcoBoost racer is faster around the ‘Ring than a Ferrari Enzo?

With 123 horsepower, the Ford FF1 track day car is an Ariel Atom competitor capable of 80 mpg. Bad news is; we’ll probably never see it Stateside.

2014 Audi RS 5 Cabriolet hits showrooms next month starting at a staggering $77,900

The price tag doesn’t seem too unreasonable for a 450-horsepower V8-powered German luxury convertible.

Another $13,000 micro EV from a no-name automaker is just what the world needs, right?

The “Colibri,” as it’s called, seems like a fine little EV. But we wonder why it’s been planned at all.

That was quick: ‘Teslaccessories’ aims to outfit your Tesla Model S with aftermarket parts

Seeing a need, Teslaccessories decided to fill it with aftermarket center console add-ins to the Tesla Model S. The strange thing is, orders are only open to those who receive an invitation.

Ford shies away from turbos and sticks with a blower for the 2014 Mustang Cobra Jet

Yes it’ll cost you just shy of $100,000 but for the money you get an NHRA ready drag racer complete with parachute mounts.

No, that’s not the next Lexus LFA; that’s the Hyundai HND-9 concept

The HND-9 concept makes us wonder if the Koreans are losing their distinctive design touch and have begun to lean onto the Japanese a bit too heavily for design inspiration.

Does Maserati really need to build a $1.3-million version of the LaFerrari?

Maserati is reportedly considering a LaFerrari-based supercar flagship of its own, much like the 2004 Ferrari Enzo-based Maserati MC12.

Renault Formula One engineers unveil new turbocharged V6 engine

Surprising us all, Renault adds two electric motors to its new turbocharged V6: one for regenerative braking and one to boost the turbo.

All-electric ‘green Gran Prix’ Formula E racing coming to Los Angeles, Miami and…?

Powered only by electricity, the Formula E cars will do 0-60 in three seconds and hit a top speed of 155 mph.

NY Auto Show preview: Subaru to unveil first production hybrid and performance concept car

Subaru is ready to unveil the production XV Crosstrek Hybrid alongside a performance concept vehicle. We’re hoping for a BRZ STI.

Is the world ready for a Bentley Mulsanne Convertible? Brand chief still deciding

With the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe rolling the planet, it’s a wonder why Bentley hasn’t sent the 505 horsepower convertible Mulsanne to production.