Calling on regular partners Funkmaster Flex and Galpin Auto Sports, a trio of customized Ford Explorers will be a centerpiece of the Ford stand at this year's SEMA show in Las Vegas -- even before the redesigned SUV goes on sale.

 

Funkmaster Flex and Team Baurtwell bring an urban theme to their Explorer. Changes include 24-inch, three-piece forged billet rims and Baer brakes. The interior features Katskin two-tone leather seats adorned with the Funkmaster Flex logo and a Sony Xplod audio system.

 

With all the hubbub surrounding the media launches of the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, both of which took place this week, it's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. Journalists and engineers alike have struggled with the hybrid Volt's technical details. The Leaf, an electric vehicle that has no gas tank and derives its power from the grid, has prompted questions about functional range and infrastructure compatibility. But one question is at the heart of every discussion about either car: What do you do about the miles-per-gallon number?  

 

 

 

 

 

Toyota will reveal another member of the Prius family in January at the Detroit auto show. It will be completely new and different in size from the current model.

 

Toyota has said it plans to expand the Prius and market the name as a sub-brand that stands for environmental prowess. The company is also developing a plug-in electric version of the current model.

 

News flash: Most teenagers aren't good drivers. Surprised? You shouldn't be, at least not if you've been conscious for any part of the last hundred years. But according to a study performed by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, poor teen driving skills can be blamed on one source: parents.   

What would the taxi experience be like without drivers? Think about it: No beads, no arguing over routes, no loud music, no refused fares. Earlier this year, the German research group AutoNomos unveiled a GPS-equipped Volkswagen Passat capable of navigating public roads autonomously. Among other things, it was intended to foreshadow a time when taxis won't have drivers, when technology will do the work for us. Now the group has unveiled its latest achievement: the ability to hail the car from an iPad application -- which is, frankly, amazing.  

 

 

 

 

 

The 2011 Ford F-Series has been America's top-selling truck for decades. But in a nod to changing times, Ford is now also focusing on fuel economy for its iconic truck.

 

The F-150, which is offering a V6 again this year, will get 23 mpg on the highway and 16 mpg in city driving using the naturally aspirated, 3.7-liter V6 that makes 302 hp. It works with an upgraded six-speed automatic. The figures are pending final EPA certification and are for the two-wheel configuration.

 

This engine still puts out 278 lb-ft of torque, critical for the daily grunt most work trucks require, and can tow up 6,100 pounds.

 

Also impressive is the new 5.0-liter V8, which will get 21 mpg on the highway and 15 mpg in the city. This engine pumps out 360 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque with 10,000 pounds of towing capacity.

 

Buyers now know exactly what to expect from the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport. Suzuki has announced that, next year, the sharper version of the company’s midsize 4-door will be available in two configurations: GTS and SLS. The Kizashi Sport GTS will come packed with luxuries such as a moonroof, Bluetooth hands-free calling and a 425-watt Rockford Fosgate sound system. The SLS trim throws in leather seats, rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlights, among other things. All of those goodies are piled on top of a suspension that is both lower and firmer than that of the standard Kizashi, and Suzuki says that as a result, the Kizashi Sport serves up a sharper driving experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honda took home the Greenest Automaker title for the fifth year in a row from the Union of Concerned Scientists last week. The company narrowly beat Toyota and Hyundai for the top spot.

 

UCS's rankings judge automakers' environmental performance on a smog-per-mile basis, along with global-warming emissions for the entire fleet. The average of the top eight automakers is considered 100, where a lower score is better, higher is worse.

 

Volkswagen, Nissan, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler rounded out the top eight, accounting for 92 percent of cars sold worldwide.

 

This year's rankings saw improvement from all automakers, though the Detroit Three still ended up in the bottom half. Fleet average global-warming emissions continue to be a factor in the rankings, but as new standards are phased in, the UCS said it expects to see progress in that segment as well.