2015 Subaru Impreza Named IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus

2015 Subaru Impreza Named IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus
Mazda2 Sedan Revealed Before Thailand Auto Show Debut
Lexus RC Convertible Plans Ditched in Favor of Three-Row Crossover
LaFerrari XX Prototype Spied with Radical Styling
Cadillac CEO Wants a $250K Model by 2029
2015 Ford F-150 Fuel Economy Released

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The 2015 Subaru Impreza has been given top honors from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Last year's version of the Impreza was named an IIHS Top Safety Pick, but now the car has been adorned with the 'plus' moniker thanks to its available EyeSight front crash prevention system. The Impreza has almost perfect marks in every single crash test, including the challenging small overlap test.

SEE ALSO: 2015 Subaru Impreza Review

To test the car's Eyesight system, the IIHS had the system avoid collisions at both 12 and 25 mph without driver intervention. Passing this test earned the Impreza a superior rating for front-crash prevention systems.

Discuss this story at our Subaru Forum

Mazda2 Sedan Revealed Before Thailand Auto Show Debut

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The latest addition to the Mazda2 family has been revealed ahead of its official debut at the Thailand Motor Show.

The Mazda2 sedan is everything you'd expect now that we've seen the 2016 Mazda2 hatchback. The traditional four-door model sports similar styling and looks like a subcompact version of the Mazda3. The Mazda2 is the fourth model in the Japanese automaker's lineup to adopt a full range of SkyActiv technologies along with the Kodo Soul of Motion design language and will go on sale in Thailand early 2015.

SEE ALSO: 2016 Mazda2 Officially Revealed

Globally, the Mazda2 will be available with either a 1.3-liter gasoline engine or a 1.5-liter diesel. The Mazda2 was recently named Car of the Year Japan and is the best-selling passenger model in Thailand with approximately 120,000 units sold since it went on sale in January 2010.

Discuss this story at our Mazda2 forum

Lexus RC Convertible Plans Ditched in Favor of Three-Row Crossover

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Despite revealing the LF-C2 Convertible Concept at this week's LA Auto Show, Lexus will reportedly not offer a convertible version of the RC.

Instead of producing an RC convertible, the plans for which were set in motion years ago, Lexus has instead begun working on a new three-row crossover. This is because, according to Motor Trend, when Lexus dealers found out that the brand was going to build a convertible RC before a three-row crossover they threw a fit.

Lexus dealers have been calling for a three-row version of the RX for years, as it is bound to sell well considering the RX is still the best-selling luxury crossover. The brand considered stretching the next-generation RX platform, but decided against it because the platform wasn't meant to be expanded. Instead, Lexus will build a new three-row crossover based on the next-generation LS platform, which means it will be rear-wheel drive, helping it directly compete with the Mercedes GL, Audi Q7 and Infiniti QX80.

Currently, Lexus offers the body-on-frame GX with three rows, but it simply doesn't sell well. The new crossover is expected to debut as a 2018 model year, and it may even adopt the GX moniker.

GALLERY: Lexus LF-C2 Concept Live Photos

GALLERY: Lexus LF-C2 Concept

[Source: Motor Trend]

Discuss this story at our Lexus Forum

LaFerrari XX Prototype Spied with Radical Styling

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The LaFerrari XX is shaping up to be Ferrari's most extreme model yet.

A new prototype of the LaFerrari XX has been spied testing, sporting some radical styling even for the Italian automaker's standards. The LaFerrari XX is expected to sport around 1,050 hp and will be a track-only monster. Compared to the last time we spotted the LaFerrari XX testing, it has now received a revised front air dam and two fixed rear-wing sections attached to the rear flanks. Additionally, a massive rear spoiler extends from the lip of the rear deck, for one of the more creative designs we've ever seen on an exotic.

Rumor has it that the LaFerrari XX will now be getting a turbocharged V6 engine derived from Formula 1 technology that will be paired to the production LaFerrari hybrid system. Expect more details as we get closer to the LaFerrari XX's official debut.

Discuss this story at our Ferrari forum

Cadillac CEO Wants a $250K Model by 2029

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Cadillac is rewriting its history books with appealing luxury coupes and sedan models, but is it capable of selling a $250,000 car?

Johann de Nysschen believes that the American automaker can eventually offer such a vehicle, but it won't be for another 15 years. Acknowledging that it's currently too early to offer a $250,000 Cadillac, the former Infiniti executive turned Cadillac president is working on a plethora of new products for the brand that will cost GM an estimated $2.5 billion over the next six years.

Currently, Cadillac's flagship is the XTS sedan which tops out at around $70,000 – a far cry from a quarter-million dollars. In fact, the XTS is several tens of thousands less than flagships offered by Cadillac's German competitors, especially since Mercedes recently revealed the Maybach S600. Next year Cadillac plans on changing that with the new CT-6 sedan, which will be followed up by an even more expensive model by 2020.

The company isn't ignoring the opposite end of the spectrum either and is currently investigating the possibility of a CLA competitor that would slot under the current ATS.

GALLERY: 2016 Cadillac ATS-V Coupe Live Photos

GALLERY: 2016 Cadillac ATS-V Sedan Live Photos

GALLERY: 2016 Cadillac ATS-V

[Source: Automotive News]

Discuss this story at our Cadillac forum

2015 Ford F-150 Fuel Economy Released

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Ford has finally dropped EPA-estimated fuel economy figures for its new 2015 F-150.

The most fuel efficient engine in the new truck is the 2.7-liter EcoBoost, rated at 19 mpg city, 26 on the highway and 22 mpg combined when combined with two-wheel drive. That new 2.7-liter turbocharged EcoBoost V6 makes 325 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque, allowing to tow up to 8,500 pounds. Combine this new engine with four-wheel drive, and fuel numbers dip to 18 in the city, 23 mpg on the highway and average 20 mpg.

Next up is the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 that is rated at 18 mpg in the city, 25 on the highway and 20 mpg combined. It is a new base engine for the truck, and produces 282 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque. Adding four-wheel drive drops the city and highway ratings by one each.

Then we have the 385-hp 5.0-liter V8, rated at 15 mpg city, 22 on the highway and 18 mpg combined. Add four-wheel drive and the highway number drops by one.

SEE ALSO: 2015 Ford F-150 Review

Finally, the F-150's most powerful engine, 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 is rated at 17 mpg city, 24 on the highway and 20 combined. With four-wheel drive, the 3.5-liter loses one mpg on the highway.

Ford is already touting its truck as the "most efficient gasoline-powered full-size pickup," but it can't claim the overall title. That still belongs to the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, which manages 28 mpg on the highway and a combined rating of 23 mpg.