WITH VIDEO -- The SEMA show is less than two weeks away, and automakers are ratcheting up the hype for their displays.

The folks at Chevy have posted a sneak peek video of some the cars they'll be bringing to Las Vegas. We see Camaros, Corvettes and the Silverado pickup.

Have a look for yourself:

 

Neiman Marcus' holiday catalog seems to be the place to sell a special-edition vehicle: Last year's high-priced version of the Jag XF sold out completely, and this year a special-edition 2011 Camaro Convertible, with a whopping sticker price of $75,000, also sold every one of its available models -- in three minutes.

The car was featured on NBC's "Today Show," after which a special telephone reservation line was opened. One-hundred eighty seconds later, all 100 of the Neiman Marcus Edition Camaro Convertibles were claimed. 

It turns out Mazda isn't simply shooting for the sky. Rather, the protagonists of zoom-zoom driving dynamics are taking an active approach to the brand's DNA: Put it all together, and it's called “SkyActiv.” Mazda is billing the suite of technologies as the pillars of its way forward.

Much of these features--which enhance future products in nearly all areas including engine, transmission and chassis--have already been revealed. But Mazda announced today that the SkyActiv name will be the banner it flies from now on.

The first car to get SkyActiv technology will be the Mazda 2, starting in 2011. Mazda is using SkyActiv features to fortify its product lineup as fuel-efficiency and lightweight cars becoming increasingly important in global markets. Here's a look at what's to come.

 

A potential problem with front airbags is the cause of a recall of nearly 10,000 Volvo vehicles, according to Consumer Reports. A defect in the clock-spring wiring connector in the driver's airbag that, in the event of a crash, could cause the airbag to deploy incorrectly or not at all could be present in 2010-2011 model year Volvo S80s, as well as the 2010 V70, 2011 XC60 and 2010-2011 XC70 -- more than 9,700 vehicles in total. The safety-first Swedish automaker should be contacting owners shortly to schedule a free fix -- in this case, the installation of a metal shim in the clock-spring wiring connector. If you have any questions in the meantime, you can contact Volvo at 800-458-1552.

Chrysler is also recalling a number of vehicles -- more than 26,000 Chrysler 300 and Sebring models, plus Dodge Avengers, Challengers, Journeys and Rams, due to a problem with the electric power steering. 

The redesigned 2012 Ford Focus will get an estimated 40 mpg in highway driving with an all-aluminum 2.0-liter engine mated to a six-speed, dual-dry-clutch automatic transmission.

The normally aspirated engine combines variable camshaft timing and high-pressure direct fuel injection to crank out 160 hp and 146 lb-ft of torque. That compares with 140 hp and 136 lb-ft from the aluminum 2.0-liter engine used in the current-generation Focus.

 

After all the hype -- and all the hate from knee-jerk opponents -- the Chevy Volt has backed up its promise in a big way. Delivering up to 50 miles of all-electric driving range, at an energy equivalent of 150 mpg or more, followed by a seamless switch to gasoline power that runs at roughly 35 to 43 mpg, the Volt turns out to be the potential game-changer that GM promised all along.

 

Sure, at roughly $35,000 -- and that's after its $7,500 federal tax credit -- the Volt is expensive. And the recent "news" that the Volt is more a plug-in hybrid than an electric car, which I've argued all along, is correct. 

But it's time to put aside the quibbling about the Volt's price and the semantic arguments as to its classification. After my two-day test of the Volt in the Detroit area, I’m convinced that no buyer will feel shortchanged. Instead, buyers will brag nonstop that they’re driving the Volt for weeks or even months without ever stopping at a gas station. That’s a powerful thing, and it’s something that opponents rarely stop to consider when they scoff at the possibilities of electric cars. It will make drivers feel ahead of the technological curve. It will let people cast a vote for breaking our dirty, dysfunctional arrangement with Middle East scumbags, and against having to send American troops abroad to fight for our oil. It will make people feel, in a word, special.

 

Google seeks to make further headway into the GPS market -- and the all-things-to-all-pe​ople market -- with its newest upgrade to its Car Home GPS application.

The app, for Nexus One and Droid phones running the Android 2.2 operating systems -- though there are plans to expand to other mobile devices -- starts automatically when you insert the phone into a car's charging cradle. Car Home is voice-activated -- though Roy Furchgott at The New York Times "Wheels" blog says the quality of the system is dicey -- and has six buttons on-screen that allow you to add location shortcuts or, conveniently, other car-related apps. According to Furchgott: "You can also add direct-dial numbers or directions to common destinations, like home and work." 

The BMW M3 is a potent performer right off the showroom floor. Intake, exhaust, plugs, wires--these are things that M3 drivers don't need to worry about. But what if you're looking for some flash to go along with your fast?

German tuner LSD has an answer--gullwing doors. The company now offers gullwing-door plates for the E90, the E92 and the E93 versions of the BMW M3. LSD hinges are available as a complete set for both front doors including hinge plates, cable set materials and attachments for $2,418. Buyers can also get a one-door setup for $1,104 on the driver's side.