We don’t talk about Infiniti all too often here on TopSpeed, but lately they have been part of our news due to their new Infiniti Performance Line (IPL) and the fact that they will be debuting two new M-based models at the Pebble Beach Concours. Now we get to talk about them for a different reason. Infiniti is now ready to introduce the technological advancements in the M35h that they have been discussing for quite some time: world-first steering and braking technologies. These technologies will be ready to roll when the car goes on sale in the USA and Europe in 2011.

The Infiniti M35H will be powered by a hybrid drive system that combines a naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine with a 68 HP electric motor mated to a 7-speed Adaptive Shift Control (ASC) automatic transmission. The motor directly operates the brakes using a system called the Electric Driven Intelligent Brake. This system works by allowing the motor to charge the battery when the driver applies the brake. The steering is also unique in the M35h because it is part hydraulic and part electric. The electric portion kicks in when the wheel is turned which boosts efficiency. Both of these technologies may be found in all future Infiniti Direct Response Hybrid vehicles due to their simplicity and effectiveness.

Press release after the jump.

Infiniti M35h originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 13 August 2010 21:00 EST.

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Everyone expects the new Q1comact crossover SUV from Audi considering it’s been talked about for a couple of years now. What we didn’t expect was that the future model would, in fact, be the allroad version of the current A1 hatchback. The new A1 will drop the suffix “allroad” and simply adopt the Q1 name. The future Audi Q1 will be available with a 5-door body and in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel-drive versions. The debut is expected to be made in the first quarter of 2013.

The Audi Q1 will be defined by a sober, similar look to the one of the Q3, Q5, and Q7. It will be available with engines from a 160 hp 1.4 TSI to a 2.0 TDI 140 bhp. Diesel will also play a strong role in the Q1’s future with a 1.2 Liter TDI cranking out 80 HP and a 1.6 Liter motor with outputs ranging from 100 to 120 HP. Prices will be higher than 22,000 euros for the two-wheel drive and 27,000 euros for the AWD version.

Next Audi A1 allroad will in fact be the Q1 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 11 August 2010 17:00 EST.

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Skoda unveiled the Joyster Concept at the Paris Motor Show back in 2006. This concept was a three-door front-wheel-drive compact vehicle that Skoda decided to aim directly at a younger demographic. Its dynamic shape was definitely eye-pleasing, but nothing ever became of it after its world premiere. That is until now. We can officially confirm that the concept will go into production soon and will become the cheapest model in Skoda’s line-up. The future Joyster will be based on the Volkswagen Up and will be revealed in the first half of 2012. With a price of around 9,000 euro (around $11,500 at the current exchange rates), the Joyster will target models like the Toyota iQ and the Peugeot 107.

The 2012 Joyster will be a front engine, front wheel model that will most likely feature a choice of two engine versions: a 1.0-liter three-cylinder petrol and a 1.2 three-cylinder diesel, both of them having a CO2 emission of less than 100g/km. However, unlike the future Volkswagen Up (production version known as Lupo), the next Joyster will not get an electric version.

Skoda Joyster will go into production originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 22 July 2010 23:00 EST.

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The British magazine AutoExpress got behind the wheel of the new Mini Countryman and push it to its limits. The Countryman is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines, with the S model getting a turbocharged. The turbo will take the power from 122 HP to 184. If you are lucky enough to live in Europe, you can get a few diesel options. A standard model will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in around 11 seconds, while the S version will hit in around 8 seconds.

The Countryman will not come standard with all-wheel drive. You will have to bump it up to the S level in order to get that on your Mini. Despite the cars rugged looks, it has MacPherson struts in the front and multilink in the rear, so no off-roading. Sales will begin in 2011.

Video: Mini Countryman test drive originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 21 July 2010 23:54 EST.

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The current generation Audi RS6 is about to end its life in just a few months, but this doesn’t mean that tuners can’t work on improving it. The new package comes from Cargraphic and includes both performance and aerodynamic updates.

For the engine updates the tuner is offering a new air filter, a modified exhaust system, and an ECU remap. The result is impressive with the 5.0 liter turbocharged direct injection V10 engine now developing a powerful 665 hp (up from a standard 570 HP). The package also includes a stainless steel exhaust silencer and sport catalysts. There’s no talk yet on how this improvement will increase the car’s performance.

The Cargraphic RS6 sits on 21-inch five double-spoke black wheels which are 10.5-inch wide and are wrapped in 285/30 tires. The tuner has yet to reveal pricing for the new package.

This is definitely a nice way for the RS6 to say goodbye in style!

Audi RS6 by Cargraphic originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 17 July 2010 18:00 EST.

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Buying a car can be great fun, but no matter how good your new vehicle is, there is always room for improvement. Most car and truck manufacturers leave room for us normal people to improve, or ruin their products. That’s not to say the original vehicle isn’t good, but in that good old American fashion, we always want to better our situation, in this case, our cars.

One of the easiest and cheapest upgrades one can do is an exhaust system. Sadly, many people add exhausts to cars that don’t need them, like Dodge Neons. A performance exhaust can free up some of the power in your engine by allowing the gases to escape a bit easier. When the gases can escape, your engine runs smoother.

Anyway, when the exhaust flows better, the fuel and air exit the combustion chamber faster and new fuel and air can be burned to create more power.

This works well for certain cars, but for some, the only effect that a bigger exhaust has is more noise. Putting a performance exhaust on a 1.8-liter Honda Civic won’t help the power all the much, but it’ll make it sound like a fart can.

Hit the jump for the rest of the article.

Should you buy an aftermarket exhaust for your car? originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 3 July 2010 18:00 EST.

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Roadpro 7 Liter 12V Cooler / Warmer with Cup Holders

GM revealed a new video that presents details on the new CTS-V Wagon. Like the sedan and coupe models, the CTS-V sports Wagon is powered by the same 6.2 liter supercharged V8 engine that delivers a total of 556 hp and 551 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine can be coupled to either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic.

Video: Cadillac CTS-V Wagon review originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:54 EST.

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GM revealed a new video that presents details on the new CTS-V Wagon. Like the sedan and coupe models, the CTS-V sports Wagon is powered by the same 6.2 liter supercharged V8 engine that delivers a total of 556 hp and 551 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine can be coupled to either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic.

Video: Cadillac CTS-V Wagon review originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:54 EST.

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