2013 Honda CR-Z

 The CR-Z gains an all-new Lithium-Ion battery that improves performance, and at the same time, mpg ratings, along with styling upgrades to the exterior and interior.

Thanks to the new battery, assist from the electric motor has increased from 10 kW to 15 kW. As a result, the combined output from the 1.5-liter gasoline unit and the electric motor is 130hp at 6,000rpm and 140 lb-ft. of torque (127 lb-ft. on CVT-equipped models), a gain of 8hp and 12 lb-ft of torque (4 lb-ft for the CVT versions).

Other mechanical improvements include a larger clutch and a new lower final drive ratio for the manual transmission models.

Furthermore, Honda has introduced a new Plus Sport System on all 2013 CR-Zs, which can be used when the battery is charged more than 50 percent and the car is travelling over 19mph (31km/h). According to Honda, once the driver activates the "S+" button on the steering wheel, electric boost begins, delivering increased acceleration for up to five seconds.

Honda says the 2013 CR-Z offers a 1mpg improvement in city driving with a CVT (36mpg city, 39mpg highway and 37mpg combined), and 1mpg on the highway for the manual version (31/38/34 mpg).

Exterior revisions include a new front fascia with a mesh grille and a "floating" lower spoiler lip, chrome plating and a blue tint for the headlamp assemblies, a redesigned rear diffuser, a blue clearcoat treatment for the taillights, a darker finish for the 16-inch alloy wheels and two new colors named Passion Berry Pearl and Polished Metal Metallic.

The interior of the hybrid model gains new metallic trim on the door pulls and latches, center console, speaker grilles and lower steering wheel spokes, along with redesigned inner door panels and pads, while the the horizontal bar on the speaker housing has been eliminated.

Finally, Honda has improved the standard equipment of the base model with Expanded View Driver's Mirror, Bluetooth HandsFreeLink and rearview camera while also adding LED daytime running lights and Pandora Interface with SMS text message function to the options list.

The 2013 CR-Z is available in two trim levels, the base and the EX, with prices starting at $19,975, excluding a $790 destination charge.

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2013 Volvo V60 Diesel Plug-In Hybrid

The company says that it will ramp up production to 4,000-6,000 units from 2014, since order books are already beginning to fill up. The project, which has been developed and financed by Volvo and Swedish electricity supplier Vattenfall, is the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid.

Incorporating the hybrid’s manufacture in the Torslanda plant’s production line, which also builds Volvo’s regular models, has required certain parts of the assembly line to be modified in order to integrate the more than 300 different parts that the V60 Plug-in Hybrid encompasses compared to the conventional models.

For example, the electric motor and its drive shafts are fitted on the same station as the final drive on the standard all-wheel drive versions. Additionally, the lithium-ion battery pack, which according to Mertens is “the single most complex system in the car”, is lifted through the tailgate and then spun a quarter of a turn in the passenger compartment in just 60 seconds and with less than 20 mm clearance.

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2013 Peugeot Unveils RCZ

The 2013 model year version of Peugeot's Audi TT challenger has received a round of cosmetic and equipment updates, while keeping the same engine range as before, including a 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol in 154hp (156PS) and 197hp (200PS) variants, and a 2.0-liter turbo diesel generating 161hp (163PS).

Peugeot's designers have gifted the 2013 RCZ with a more stylish and less bulbous front end by redesigning the headlamps and front bumper and adding the firm's more compact and chic "floating grille".

Other notable changes include the six LED bulbs on the front bumper, and the new headlamps available in a halogen version with an Aluminium background or a directional Xenon version with a Titanium background.

Inside, there's a lacquered black surround for the gear lever, while on GT models, the door pads are trimmed in leather, and there's new aluminum décor for the dashboard and center console.

New equipment and personalization features for the 2013 model include a lacquered black grille bars option, a "Black Pack" that paints the grille, mirror caps, brake calipers and roof arches in matte black and a trio of different exterior decals.

Joining the regular versions of the RCZ is the "R" badged concept that previews a production model set to go on sale towards the end of the next year.

The RCZ R (both in concept and production guise) gains the most powerful version of the PSA Peugeot-Citroen and BMW Group co-developed 1.6-liter twin-scroll turbo engine to date, rated at 260-horsepower, which also makes it the most potent production model in Peugeot's history.

And it's not only powerful but also relatively green as Peugeot claims the turbo engine will deliver CO2 emissions of just 155g/km.

While power will continue to be delivered to the front wheels, Peugeot's engineers have made changes to the chassis and added a Torsen limited slip differential on the front axle to keep everything in order.

The prototype is finished in a similar two-tone matte black and copper paint job to Peugeot's other Paris Moto Show, the Onyx, and sports a wider body with beefed up front and rear fenders housing larger alloy wheels and wider tires.

Further details on the concept and the production model it will spawn, are to be announced in Paris later this month.

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2013 Audi R8 V10 542HP

 The 2013 model features a revamped fascia with new LED headlamps (standard on all versions), a six-point single-frame grille with horizontal chrome inserts adorning the struts on the V10 variant, and a redesigned bumper with the air inlets bearing three crossbars each.

At the back, the R8 sports a new set of LED taillights, a different 'R8' logo, a restyled diffuser, air outlets with three slats on each corner and two new round tailpipes on all engine versions.

The interior changes are limited to some minor modifications to the trim, the needles in the instrument cluster and the shift paddles. Available options include a diamond-stitched, Fine Nappa full-leather treatment for the seats, door panels and the headlining.

While both the base 4.2-liter V8 with 424hp (430PS) and 430 Nm (317 lb-ft), and the 5.2-liter V10 rated at 518hp (525PS) and 530 Nm (391 lb-ft) remained unchanged, Audi has replaced the outgoing model's 6-speed automated manual R tronic with a new 7-speed S tronic dual clutch transmission.

Audi says the 7-Speed S tronic has reduced CO2 emissions by up to 22 grams/km (35.41 g/mile) and decreased the sprint from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) by three-tenths of a second. A six-speed manual gearbox is also offered.

The R8 V8 Coupe with S tronic accelerates from rest to 100km/h (62mph) in 4.3 seconds and tops out at 300km/h (186mph), while the R8 V10 with S tronic completes the sprint in 3.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 314 km/h (195mph).

For 2013, there's also a new "Wave" design for the brake disks that lowers the weight overall by about two kilograms (4.41 lb) compared with round disks of the same dimensions.

The overhauled R8 rolls on larger wheels size 18-inch with tires sizes 235/40 front and 285/35 rear for the V8, and 19-inch rims shod in tires 235/35 and 295/30 for the V10 models.

The new addition to the range is the V10 Plus, which is essentially a replacement to the 560HP GT models, the production of which was limited to 333 examples for each body style. The V10 Plus edition, however, will be offered only as a coupe.

The flagship model of the R8 series is powered by a tweaked 5.2-liter V10 engine churning out 542-horsepower (550PS) and a peak torque of 540Nm (398 lb-ft) at 6,500 rpm.

With S tronic, the all-wheel drive R8 V10 Plus goes from standstill to 100 km/h (62mph) in 3.5 seconds and tops out at 317 km/h (197 mph). It has an average fuel consumption of 12.9lt/100km (18.2 US mpg).

The key data for the 6-speed manual transmission model are 3.8 seconds, 319 km/h (198 mph) and 14.9 liters (15.79 US mpg) respectively.

Thanks to the bucket seats with glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) chassis, reduced use of insulating materials, special light alloy wheels and chassis components, including the standard ceramic brakes, as well the CFRP add-on parts on the body, the V10 Plus tips the scales at 1,570 kg (3461 lbs) or just 10kg (22 pounds) more than the V8 Coupe with a manual gearbox.

The V10 Plus model also gets specially tuned springs and shock absorbers, different camber values on the front axle, and standard magnetic ride adaptive damping.

You can distinguish the V10 Plus from its lesser coupe siblings by the carbon fiber package that adds a front splitter, mirror housings, wider side blades and air vents. In addition, the vent louvers next to the rear window, the 19-inch alloy wheels, the larger rear diffuser and the twin exhaust pipes are finished in black.

Other features include the CFRP lining and LED lighting for the engine compartment, and bucket seats with prominent side sections for better lateral support.

The revamped for 2013 Audi R8 will reach European customers at the end of the year with prices in Germany starting at €113,500 for the V8 Coupé, €124,800 for the V8 Spyder, and €154,600 and €165,900 for the V10 Coupe and Spyder respectively, while the R8 V10 Plus costs €173,200.

Sales in the U.S. are expected to start in the first quarter of 2013.

Audi is also planning to debut an all-electric version of the R8 with the e-Tron moniker at the Paris Motor Show this fall.

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