2012 Kia Rio sedan confirms for New York Auto Show

Our guy Jeremy Korzeniewski is attending a Kia event in Phoenix, Arizona this current week, and during a press briefing this morning, JK learned that the Korean automaker will be unveiling its 2012 Rio sedan to the 2011 New York Auto Show. The four door Rio will balance the hatchback body fashion that bowed at the Geneva Motor Show in early March.

Four power trains will be available on Rio overseas two gas and two diesel and while mum's the word on which engine(s) will be available here in the United States, we put our money on the 1.4-liter gasoline four. This mill produces 108 horsepower and 100 pound feet of torque, mated to either a six speed manual or four-speed(!) automatic transmission.

In other reports, Kia also let slip that the KV7 concept from this year's Detroit Auto Show previews what's in store for the next creation Sedona minivan. We hinted at this after a discussion with Michael Sprague, Kia's vice president of marketing, though it's still unclear closely what elements from the KV7 will be incorporated into the next-gen Sedona. The concept focused on a more traditional conversion van setup rather than the family-centric Sedona that now graces our streets.

New Chevrolet Teases 2013 Malibu Before Shanghai Launch

Chevrolet’s presently released this teaser video and taillight image of the latest, eighth-generation Malibu along with the announcement that the car, currently a global product, will debut at the Shanghai Motor Show on April 18.

The Malibu, before a North American car only, will become GM’s newest global car in its eighth generation and the Chevrolet brand’s initial global midsize sedan. Chevrolet says the next Malibu will be sold in 100 countries on six continents and built at several plants around the world. The Malibu, Chevrolet says, was designed for a worldwide audience with “European-inspired driving characteristics,” which should mean sporty handling.

As you can see, this global influence also means sporty look. While you can see the evolution from the present generation Malibu to the new car, the 2013 Malibu is less round and swoopy and more sharp and edgy. The common shape of the headlights and two-bar grille remain, but are bolder and protrude more from the body. Character outline along the hood and doors are more pronounced, as are the car’s hips and big wheels. The rear finish draws clear influence from the Camaro with its squared taillights, rectangular fascia and dual exhaust tips. The car you see here is a Chinese-spec model, but Chevrolet says there will be smallest differences between U.S.-spec and Chinese-spec cars.

New car BMW Tiger edition for China with M3 Matte Edition

Automakers have all sorts of different ways of celebrating milestone anniversaries. In the case of the M3, which turns 25 years old this current year, BMW opted to roll out a series of particular editions for individual market. Japan, for example, got the Competition Fire Orange Edition. Here in the United States, we got the Frozen Gray edition. In australia they got the Pure edition, and in China they got the Tiger edition. The final proved so popular that BMW has opted to roll out a second particular edition for the People's Republic.

Called the Matte Edition, its defining feature, as you might have guessed, is the matte black paint work, complimented by black chrome trim, high-gloss 19-inch alloys to contrast with the low gloss car body, red brake calipers and a interior decked out with carbon fiber trim and red stitching. Mechanically, the Matte Edition is just the same as a stock M3, but the color method is one of the most attractive we've seen yet.

New model 2011 Hyundai Genesis Sedan V6

Automakers have been carving the luxury segment into finer and finer slices for generation. Territory that once belonged solely to the likes of Mercury, Buick and Oldsmobile is currently the fertile hunting grounds of brands from Acura to Infiniti. Thanks to these relative newcomers, buyers without the money to jump into Bavarian marks like BMW, Mercedes-Benz or Audi can still plant their derrieres on supple leather thrones without having to sell the family farm in the process.

Three years back, Hyundai leapt into the low-buck luxury fray with the company's Genesis Sedan a motor vehicle that was intended to prove the Korean automaker could strut its stuff up marketplace without the burden of launching a separate dedicated luxury variety just for the occasion. We were impressed with the large Hyundai when it touched down three years back as a 2009 model, but domestic automakers like Buick and Chrysler have since sharpened their game in a big way. We jumped behind the wheel of the 2011 Genesis Sedan to find out how the vehicle's initial generation has held up before the updated second one arrives as a 2012 model.

2012 Mercedes Benz C-Class for Fine Drive

When it comes to automobiles, cost is usually the limiting factor. Endowed with limitless dough, who wouldn't drive their dream car?

For those inclined toward luxury, the full-size Mercedes-Benz S-Class coddles its drivers with massive comfort and technology that compensates for almost each common human frailty exhibited behind the wheel. The S-Class, however, remains beyond the means of most drivers.

Developed to make three pointed worth, safety and luxury more attainable, the W 201 sedan was introduced by Mercedes-Benz in 1982. Known as the 190, this compact sedan stands as the direct forerunner of the C-Class. Some 8.5 million sales stand as M-B's commercial verification of concept over four generations. And the way things are going, those sales are set to continue.

Global auto manufacture could fall 30% due to quake in Japan

You've likely seen plenty of news recently about how Japanese automakers have been affected by the March 11 earthquake in Japan, but what about the rest of the production? The Detroit News reports that research firm IHS Automotive thinks that worldwide auto production could drop by 30 percent, and almost every major automaker will be affected.