Car Throttle

In order to keep you, our reader, more abreast with current news without taking up an inordinate amount of your time, I'm introducing this column - "News Bites."  One paragraph and picture per topic of today's automotive news.  One article.  If we were a paper publication, we'd say we were going green.  Let us know what you think! Fiat has dropped a load of new photos of the 3rd-generation Panda supermini today.  This pint-sized product (which I still believe Fiat should be selling in the US pitched against the Fit, etc) debuted at the Frankfurt show in September, and is going on sale next year.  Engines are all tiny, ranging from an 800cc TwinAir 2cyl up to a 1.3L diesel.  Full high-res gallery here.

Infiniti has presented its long-overdue three-row crossover at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, which opened on Nov 18. The 2013 JX fits between the sportier Infiniti FX and the full-size QX, bringing the number of crossovers offered by the Japanese manufacturer up to four. The new JX is attractive to buyers who need the extra seating but are reluctant to compromise on mid-size utilities. Mostly, the JX has the same design features as the other crossover Infiniti luxury cars but with slight variations in theme, i.e. the customary large rectangular grille but with scalloped D-pillars on the rear-side windows. On the inside, the JX has got standard Infiniti luxury, with a 7-inch touch screen in the dash, leather-trimmed seats and power-adjustable and

The notion that electric cars can be no fun is one that has been pretty much dispelled. Anyone who thinks the Tesla Roadster wouldn't be a blast to drive needs their head examined. We still like the roar of an internal combustion engine, but the torque offered by electric engines is undeniable. Most hybrids aren't all that fun, but some automakers have turned their hybrids for performance, such as the previous generation Lexus GS 450h and Infiniti's M35h. With 364 horsepower, no one ever thought it would be a slouch. Turns out, Infiniti now has some bragging rights as the M35h is the fastest hybrid in the world, with a 0-62 mph time of 5.5 seconds and quarter mile time of 13.9031. Wow! The run

Several high-profile launches are scheduled to debut at next month's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Show in Monterey, California. Lexus is introducing the GS 350 and Infiniti is choosing the occasion to introduce its new JX Crossover SUV. The JX is a seven-seat crossover, a first for Infiniti. It joins the Audi Q7, Lincoln MKT, Mercedes-Benz GL in the segment. A few teaser images are being released as part of the car's "Power of Seven" advertising campaign. The latest shows off the car's unique curved C-Pillar design. It was first shown on Infiniti's Essence Concept, and it is making its way to production cars as a defining design trait. We welcome the entry of a new seven-seater crossover in the segment, as they offer better driving

Turning points for manufacturers in a segment can often start with one product. A star model; for Infiniti, that was no doubt the original G35 that launched in 2003. For a brand that never really got traction during the 1990s, the G35 represented a big change, being a rear-wheel drive car that vaulted Infiniti into serious contention with long-time segment champions like the BMW 3-Series. As with anything though, there was room for improvement. Infiniti introduced a redesigned G35 for the 2007 model year and it addressed some criticisms lobbed at the previous car, such as the substandard interior. In 2009, the G got an upgraded 3.7-liter VQ powerplant that bumped the designation up to G37. For 2011, the car has been refreshed further,

Dank: it's a noun, an urban-ism, with a lot of meanings. It can refer to food ("that burrito was dank!"), music ("this house DJ is dank!") or a number of other things.  In the car world, Dank is usually used to describe stanced/hellaflush cars.  So Dank-Fest seems like a proper title for a show devoted to the Stance & Offset crowd.  The show - which was the first - was organized and put together by StancedLyfe, Wilkseboro Crew, and Hoodstatus, and was supported or sponsored by ISO, TeamRPM, NOS Energy, Firestone (locally), GoGirl Entertainment, and SOHO Motorsports. So... what the hell is Stance & Offset?  In mechanical terms, it's a car that's slammed to the ground, cambered out, stretched tires and rolled fenders with the wheels

Hyundai's Genesis Sedan was a complete surprise when it debuted in 2008. No one was really expecting Hyundai, of all brands, to come out with a full-size, rear-wheel drive pseudo-luxury sedan.  Even fewer people were expecting it to be as good as it was, either - it was more than a match for luxury-biased mid-sizers like the Lexus GS, Acura TL, Chrysler 300C, etc. But even with a really good product, it's basically market suicide to leave it untouched on the market for a few years as the competition gets better.  So Hyundai has made some changes and updates to their now 2nd-tier luxury sedan (since they started selling the LS460-sized Equus in the US.) The biggest changes occur under the skin.  All the Genesis sedan

Infiniti, like Nissan, has got big things in store for the Los Angeles International Show. The new M35 hybrid will be introduced, along new models like the 2011 G25 and performance model the IPL G Coupe. Infiniti's popular EX crossover is also getting updated for 2011, as it starts to roll into dealerships. As the model is fairly new, it isn't a significant - more like tweaks here and there on a successful formula. The biggest change would be the EX's transmission. Last year, the EX was behind the pack with a five-speed automatic. For 2011, it leapfrogs them, adding two gear ratios with a 7-speed unit. The exterior changes consist of three new colors and the addition of standard 18-inch (up from 17) alloy wheels across the

While it is perhaps been overlooked, Nissan has been doing extremely well for itself in the United States market. The brand has posted growth for 10 straight months. Quite impressive. To capitalize on that, the brand is launching a new "Innovation for All" marketing campaign. That claim has been bolstered by vehicles like the LEAF. In addition, lots of new products are on the way, headed for the Los Angeles International Auto Show. It includes the much-speculated about Nissan Murano Convertible, dubbed CrossCabriolet. Pretty crazy that a manufacturer has the guts to introduce a product like this. We applaud bold moves like that! Introduction of the CrossCabriolet has been confirmed by Nissan, with a press release stating: " Murano CrossCabriolet, the world's first all-wheel drive crossover convertible (how's that

Cadillac and Infiniti have been increasingly aiming for their German competition as of late. The CTS and M, as mid-size models, are both crucial to each of their respective manufacturers in achieving that goal. Safety is a highly important aspect for customers when purchasing a new vehicle, and all luxury manufacturers aim to score well (and usually do). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has announced that the Cadillac CTS and Infiniti M are Top Picks for 2010. This in particular is a pretty impressive new entry for Infiniti, showing the brand has really advanced in the area of safety. The CTS has been picked for this award before, showing continued excellence. The Top Pick status comes after passing new, more stringent roof testing standards. The CTS