Perhaps you’ve seen the TV ad showing a CX-5 zoom-zooming across a dry lake and then whistling past an array of scientific apparatus, staffed by a bevy of guys in lab coats who seem to be deliriously happy with what they’re witnessing. The spot suggests a dynamic trait—speed—that isn’t readily apparent in the CX-5’s real-world persona. Or, more accurately, acceleration, since speed can be summoned. Eventually. (more…)

Volkswagen is showing a factory-apprentice-tuned GTI at the annual Wörthersee festival in Austria, an annual celebration of the GTI and all things VW. The GTI Black Dynamic is mostly SEMA-esque fare, so don’t expect to see any of its mods on a factory-built production car.

According to Lexus, the last examples of the maker’s HS250h luxury hybrid sedan rolled off the assembly line in January 2012. Based on the Euro-market Toyota Avensis, the HS250h debuted in 2009 as the luxury maker’s entry-level hybrid offering. Read full story »]]> http://blog.caranddriver.com/production-of-the-lexus-hs250h-hybrid-comes-to-a-whimpering-halt/feed/ 0 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/omZqw407NDA/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/omZqw407NDA/#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 19:23:56 +0000 Car and Driver http://blog.caranddriver.com/?p=83587

Toyota’s Gazoo Racing is entering a pair of race-prepped GT 86s (the Toyota-badged sibling of the Scion FR-S) in the 24 Hours Nürburgring endurance race, in addition to its successful LFA race car. Read full story »]]> http://blog.caranddriver.com/toyota-to-field-gt-86-and-lexus-lfa-at-24-hours-of-nurburgring/feed/ 0 http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120517/CARNEWS/120519820 http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120517/CARNEWS/120519820#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 19:21:38 +0000 AutoWeek http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120517/CARNEWS/120519820 http://auttr.com/blog/2012/05/17/five-hot-hatch-volkswagens-to-debut-at-worthersee/feed/ 0 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/R1tbDoqo1Ns/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/R1tbDoqo1Ns/#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 18:26:08 +0000 Car and Driver http://blog.caranddriver.com/?p=83437

On Tuesday we posted an audio recording of a mystery car’s exhaust note. To hear it again, click play above. Only a couple of you figured out that this week’s sound came from the 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec. The refreshed Genesis coupe’s raspy, rorty noise comes from its updated 348-hp V-6 engine—that’s 38 hp more than the 2012 model.

Like that sound? Download the MP3 and quiz your friends, make your own ringtone, or just lull yourself to sleep with sweet, sweet vehicular ear candy.

2013 Hyundai Genesis 3.8 R-Spec MP3 (Right-click to Save As…)

Volkswagen always brings cool stuff to the annual Wörthersee GTI meet—the event has previously hosted gems such as the Edition 35 GTI and the Golf R Cabriolet—and this year is no exception.  However, the best of this year’s batch of awesomeness has to be this Polo WRC Street concept, which previews a production model set to go on sale next year. Of course, we don’t get the normal Polo here in the States; thus, don’t expect to see the WRC Street anywhere but Europe.