In about three years, the new EcoBoost 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine from Ford Motor Co. will enter global production. But according to an insider source familiar with the engine, there is still no timetable for a US version. The source added that it isn’t happening yet for North America. The source added that the subject is certainly being discussed but there’s still no vehicle planned for it yet. There are talks for the next-generation Ka, a front-drive car that is even smaller than... 

The rumored extended range electric crossover we saw revealed in General Motors’ design patent drawings is now a reality. The Chevrolet Volt MPV5 concept will make its debut tomorrow at the Beijing Motor Show, and just as we suspected from seeing Volt design chief Bob Boniface’s name on the patent, this five-passenger crossover rides on the same Voltec architecture as the Volt. The new Chevrolet concept integrates design elements from the Volt, including the headlight, taillamps and... 

More than 2,100 exhibitors from 16 countries will attend the 11th Beijing International Auto Show that starts on April 23. The event will feature the latest designs for alternative-energy cars, according to People’s Daily. The 200,000 square-meter exhibition area will showcase 990 cars, of which 89 will have their world premiere. Stiff competition will come from Volkswagen, BMW, Porsche, Ford, General Motors and other global automakers. Over 700,000 visitors are expected to arrive at the event.... 

From the racetrack to the road, this might be the story of the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car that was unveiled back in March at the Geneva Motor Show. And this is not just another rumor, as the spies caught a prototype near Nurburgring, in Germany, that had a number of telltale signs that under its body it is not an ordinary 911. Regarding the 911 GT3 Hybrid R, this race car already showed that it can write a page of history, as it scored a podium finish in its second appearance in the Nurburgring... 

  Hyundai and Kia announced that they will offer stop-start technology as a fuel-saving feature on many North American vehicles within 2 years. “Start-stop will be a key part of our development activity in the next two product cycles,” in 2012 and 2016, said Timothy White, Hyundai-Kia’s senior powertrain manager. The new technology is expected to provide a 3% increase in fuel economy. As you may know already Stop-start engine technology is being adopted by more automakers... 

The media previews for the 2010 Beijing Motor Show are happening at the end of this week and, assuming a certain Icelandic volcano doesn’t upset the atmosphere further, we expect to be on hand. One of the possible debuts is a new Chevrolet-badged MPV concept. What makes this vehicle particularly interesting is that it may be propelled by the same Voltec extended range EV powertrain used in the Volt. On the design patent that was issued last week, one of the credits is given to Bob Boniface,...