Poll: Acura NSX or Ford GT?

Poll: Acura NSX or Ford GT?
Chris Harris, Sabine Schmitz Could Be Joining Top Gear: Report
Dream Car Garages 2015: Our Massive Christmas Wishlist
Aston Martin Files for Aeroblade Trademark
This Patent Filling Could Reveal the Next Honda Odyssey
Toyota to Debut New Map System for Driverless Cars

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Supercars are sexy, there's no doubt. And two of the hottest in a generation are scheduled to go on sale relatively soon, the new Acura NSX and Ford's re-reborn GT.

Both of these machines feature powertrains designed for the new century. Acura's latest beast features a hybridized propulsion unit centered on a 3.5-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 matched to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Twin electric motors round out the system, which should deliver a stable of 573 horses.

The equally new Ford GT also features force-fed six. This EcoBoost monster should crank out more than 600 ponies, though official figures are not available at this time. A seven-speed, dual-clutch transaxle should provide instantaneous gear changes.

Before casting your vote, compare these two cars side by side.

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Chris Harris, Sabine Schmitz Could Be Joining Top Gear: Report

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Well, this could be interesting news for Top Gear fans.

A new report from the U.K.'s Telegraph says Chris Harris and race driver Sabine Schmitz could be joining Chris Evans as new hosts for the relaunch of BBC's Top Gear.

Schmitz is from Germany and is an established TV host and professional racing driver for BMW and Porsche. Known as "Queen of the Ring," she is very familiar with the infamous Nurburgring and would be the show's first female host. Harris, who used to host Drive, write for Jalopnik and Evo, and host the Chris Harris on Cars YouTube channel, is well known for being an outspoken and sometimes controversial automotive journalist, which would make him a good replacement for the loud-mouthed Jeremy Clarkson. He is also a racing driver.

ALSO SEE: BBC's Top Gear Returning in May 2016

Another report says that Formula One driver David Coulthard could join the show as a host.

The show suffered a setback yesterday when its executive producer quit months before the show's relaunch.

It was originally thought that the new Top Gear would be ditching the three-host format, but this report throws a wrench into those rumours.

The new show is set to debut on May 8.

[Source: Telegraph]

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Dream Car Garages 2015: Our Massive Christmas Wishlist

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Socks when you were young. Anything from your Great Aunt Gladice while you were a teenager. Anything that isn't booze when you're an adult. We've all been there.

Like every Christmas, AutoGuide.com likes to dream about getting exactly what we want for Christmas: tons of cars. Big ones, little ones, electric ones and fast ones, there isn't a member of our team who doesn't endlessly dream about driving.

This year, we're splitting up our dream car garages by segment. Each editor has to choose one vehicle from 10 different automotive segments. Besides letting you in on our dreams, this list will give you a taste for some of our favorites in each category that are currently available on the market.

Pickup Truck: 2015 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road Although the new Toyota Tacoma has its faults, when you leave the pavement for the dirt, there are few vehicles that offer as much confidence and fun as this little midsize pickup.

Family Sedan: 2015 Volvo S60 Polestar This sports-tuned Volvo offers enough space for the whole family, plus reasonable everyday driving comfort. And when the kids are left at home, it can be a rip roaring good time on any twisty road.

Green Car: 2016 Chevy Volt With good looks, tight handling and the promise of gas-free driving for 50 miles at a time, the new Chevy Volt is an appealing package.

Hypercar: McLaren P1 None of the current hypercars can match the absolutely menacing looks of the McLaren P1. With a long, curved demented smile on its face, the P1 uses its more than 900 horsepower to tear up race tracks and public roads alike.

RWD sports coupe: 2015 Ford Mustang GT With that massive 5.0-liter V8 under the hood, there is no denying the power of the new Mustang. The GT350 is cool, but I don't need the extra thrills. The 435 hp on tap here will do just fine.

Midsize Crossover: 2015 Honda CR-V I know. It's the boring option. But in a boring segment, you can't beat the practicality of the Honda. Storage space abounds and the CR-V couldn't be easier to pilot.

Supercar: McLaren 675LT Ferraris and Lamborghinis are beautiful, but McLaren still has panache that those Italians just can't match. In a world of exclusivity, McLaren ownership still feels like it's a special club.

Hot Hatch: Ford Fiesta ST Ford's pocket rocket is still some of the most fun I've had in a front-wheel-drive hatchback. This little sprite is lively, thanks to its turbocharged engine while its minuscule wheelbase makes it a blast to drive.

SUV: 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit EcoDiesel The Jeep Grand Cherokee offers luxury and capability, both of which are present in the top-end Summit model equipped with the brand's stalwart 3.0-liter diesel engine.

Full-Size Luxury Car: 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Mercedes-Benz is no stranger to top end luxury cars, and the S-Class is a superb example.

Pickup Truck: 2016 Ford F-150 Raptor I'm not much of a truck guy and since the Ram SRT-10 is long dead, I'll take the most badass off-road truck to ever rollout of an OEM factory – the Raptor.

Family Sedan: 2016 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Do I really need to give you 707 reasons why the Charger SRT Hellcat is the greatest family sedan currently on the market?

Hybrid: 2016 Chevrolet Volt I've always been a fan of the Volt and the new 2016 model is fantastic. If money was no object, I would still take this car over the Tesla Model S. Yes, I just typed that.

Hypercar: Koenigsegg Regera 1,500 hp. Enough said.

RWD Sports Coupe: 2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder There is nothing on the road right now that engages the driver as much as the Boxster Spyder. It's a phenomenal car that gives oodles of smiles per mile.

Midsize Crossover: Local Motors Rally Fighter This is a mid-size crossover. Right? Right? Sorry, I can't hear you. I'm too busy blasting across a desert floor at ludicrous speeds.

Supercar: Lamborghini Aventador A big snarling V12 engine and all-wheel drive will do nicely, thanks. And I would be crazy enough to drive this thing all winter long, assuming I can find some snow tires that fit it.

Hot Hatch: 2016 Ford Focus RS There are so many amazing hot hatchbacks in Europe we don't get, so I'll settle for the new Ford Focus RS. OK, that isn't settling at all since the RS is going to be a monster.

SUV: 2016 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S This incredibly expensive, go anywhere SUV is perfect for moderate off-roading, towing a boat or turning some laps at the local circuit.

Full-Size Luxury Car: 2016 Mercedes-Benz S 65 AMG What's not to like about a twin-turbo V12 with over 700 lb-ft of torque in a massive sedan that is the very definition of opulent.

Sami Haj-Assaad, Features Editor

Pickup Truck: Ram 1500 Rebel This is the go to truck for me. With its big Hemi engine and off-road ready suspension, it exudes the right personality for the truck in my dream stable.Family Sedan: Mercedes-AMG C 63 S With the same engine as the Mercedes AMG GT S this crazy C-Class has tons of power and is a ton of fun to drive. It also sounds great, which is something that can't be said about the next car.Green Car: BMW i8 It's a plug-in hybrid with skinny tires and gets 76 MPGe so it definitely counts as a "Green Car." Also it looks super cool, is really light, makes neat noises and is the best idea for a green car ever.

Hypercar: Koenigsegg One:1 This is on my list because it's NOT a hypercar. Instead with its output of 1360 PS (Which isn't a made up unit of measurement) it's the worlds first MEGACAR.

RWD sports coupe: Dodge Viper An 8.4-liter V10 Coupe with a 1-of-1 exterior design? Yup, sounds like my dream come true.

Midsize Crossover: Porsche Macan Turbo With 400 hp the Porsche Macan Turbo is the crossover for me. I don't even know if its considered a midsize or compact crossover, but I know I want one with this awesome powerplant and familiar Porsche design.

Supercar: Acura NSX I said this car wasn't real for a long time and now it is… so welcome to the dream fleet NSX!

Hot Hatch: Volkswagen Golf R Is the Civic Type R out yet? No? Then I'll take this 300-hp Golf with AWD. It's actually a pretty solid car overall and can be both a lot of fun to drive, and very normal when the time calls for it. Perfect.

SUV: BMW X5 M Everyone in the AutoGuide.com office knows I have a huge crush on the X5 that got even worse once I drove the X5 M for a weekend. This big beast has over 500 hp and never feels like a big and bothersome SUV. Still my favorite in the segment.

Full-Size Luxury Car: Mercedes-AMG S65 AMG Coupe It's a two door version of the S-Class, meaning it suits my needs perfectly. (It doesn't say SEDAN, just CAR. I didn't break the rules!) Put that nice twin-turbo V12 under the hood for good measure.

Jodi Lai, Managing Editor

Pickup Truck: Ram 1500 Rebel It has the word "Rebel" in it, so it mist be cool, right? Or how about the Raptor!? That's pretty sweet too!

Family Sedan: 2017 Audi A4 A solid performer with all the right luxury and performance I'd realistically ever need.

Green Car: 2016 Chevrolet Volt This was one of the best cars I drove all year. I love all the fuel-saving technology in it and the fact that it looks and drives like a normal car.

Hypercar: Aston Martin Vulcan You can't legally drive it outside of a track, but I think it's actually look is both beautiful and menacing at the same time. Its V12 also sounds brilliant and there are only 25 in the world, so the exclusivity is a big bonus.

RWD sports coupe: 2016 Ford Mustang GT350 The freaking V8 revs to 8,250 rpm and it costs under $50,000. And when you hear how it sounds with the sports exhaust activated, it will change your life.

Midsize Crossover: 2016 Hyundai Tucson This is my favorite crossover right now. Hyundai did such a great job with this redesign that it has become the segment leader for me in terms of value, looks, drive and equipment.

Supercar: 2016 Ford GT COME ON. Have you seen it? Even a year after its reveal, the Ford GT's looks still stops me in my tracks.

Hot Hatch: 2016 Volkswagen Golf R I'm a VW fangirl, what can I say. I've always liked the Golf R and the revamp this year makes it even better.

SUV: 2016 Volvo XC90 This SUV was just so damn impressive and was one of the best cars I drove this year. It's a gamechanger, and I like that.

Full-Size Luxury Car: 2016 Bentley Mulsanne This big, ridiculous sedan oozes class and opulence. And Hannibal drives one, so there's that.

Craig Cole, Associate Editor

Pickup Truck: Chevrolet Colorado … Diesel My pick-of-the-truck-litter is Chevy's brand-new Colorado diesel. This right-sized rig does everything I could ever want. It offers plenty of towing and payload capacity, solid driving dynamics and borderline-miraculous fuel economy. That makes it a win, Win, WIN in my book.

Family Sedan: Chevrolet SS When it comes to "family sedans" my first choice would be a brutish up-and-commer from the land downunder. Chevy's SS is a pure blast from the past, sporting a muscular yet refined V8 engine, rear-wheel drive and – get this – an available manual transmission. I'm SOLD!

Green Car: Mazda MX-5 My choice for green car is the Miata. How is this machine good for mother earth, like, at all, especially when there are EVs, hybrids and the like on the market? Well, hear me out. You see, this car is significantly lighter than its predecessor, yet it doesn't resort to exotic materials as a crutch to deliver this. Engineers in Hiroshima sweat every detail, cutting mass everywhere. I believe the MX-5 serves as a template the rest of this industry should follow.

Hypercar:Hennessey Venom GT Why would I put this Hennessey in my stable of awesome autos? Beacuase 'Murica, that's why! This heavily modified Lotus features a turbocharged 7.0-liter small-block V8 that delivers a stampede of nearly 1,300 horses. Also, it's supposedly the fastest car in the world with a top speed of 270 miles an hour. That's pretty neat, right?

RWD Sports Coupe: Audi S5 My preferred sports coupe is a car I fell in love with when I was a lot younger, and it's one that just seems to keep getting better with time. Audi's S5 is every bit as sexy today as it was when it first bowed the better part of a decade ago. No, it's not purely "rear-wheel drive" but four-corner quattro traction makes it better than that. Whatever … just shut up. IT'S MY DREAM GARAGE!!!

Midsize Crossover: Dodge Journey What?! Why is there a Dodge Journey in my dream garage? That's like a superhero choosing flatulence as his or her power. Well, if I ever want to become invisible this machine is like a cloaking device. I'd also keep one around so I can remember what it's like to be disappointed. Across the board modern vehicles are so phenomenally good it's almost unbelievable. I want something to remind me what it's like to feel sad.

Supercar: Audi R8 The Audi R8 is an immensely enjoyable machine that really needs no justification for its placement on a list such as this, therefore none will be given.

Hot Hatch: Ford Focus RS No, it's technically not out yet but the Focus RS will be an absolute BEAST. This machine's 2.3-liter force-fed four-cylinder promises to belt out 350 horses and just as much torque. With all-wheel drive harnessing that performance potential this little Ford will fly, that I guarantee.

SUV: Ford Expedition Two words propel the Ford Expedition into my dream garage, well, technically it's one but whatever … shut up. IT'S MY DREAM GARAGE!!! EcoBoost is the secret sauce here, a clandestine condiment if you will. This truck's 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 provides tons of tire-toasting torque, way more than you'd ever expect. The Expedition's refined demeanor, spacious interior and overall comfort also make it a winner.

Full-Size Luxury Car: Rolls-Royce Phantom When it comes to obscene luxury nobody can beat Rolls-Royce, no car can trump the Phantom. This half-million-dollar machine is over the top in a way that's almost vulgar, which is why I need one. Acres of creamy leather, square yards of opulent wood trim and the on-road silence of a bunker are but a few of its alluring attributes.

Jason Siu, News Editor

Pickup Truck: Chevrolet Colorado I'm not a truck guy at all, which could be evident by my pick – but if I had to have one in my dream garage, it wouldn't be some monstrosity.

Family Sedan: Cadillac ATS-V Sedan If you're going to have to have a four-door sedan, you might as well pick one that's fun to drive. The Cadillac ATS-V Sedan has 464 hp, need I say more?

Green Car: Tesla Model S I'll be different than my cohorts and go with the Tesla Model S as my green car for my dream garage. How do you deny Ludicrous mode?

Hypercar: McLaren P1 Ever since I set eyes on this beauty at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, I knew I had to have her. Except I can't, so I might as well in my dream garage.

RWD sports coupe: Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Uhhh yeah, it has 707 hp and I would take it over any of those fancy luxury sports coupes. Besides, it's a dream garage – gotta have something to offset the other uber luxury cars right?

Midsize Crossover: Nissan Juke R 2.0 It is arguably the most insane creation yet from an automaker and the first time Nissan debuted the Juke R I was impressed. Then it shoved more power into it and I really wish I could have one.

Supercar: Ferrari 488 GTB A turbo Ferrari that looks that good? Something tells me it would be the perfect daily driver.

Hot Hatch: Honda Civic Type R I grew up a Honda guy and I can't believe that eventually in my lifetime I might be fortunate enough to own a Civic Type R. Hopefully they bring a hatch to the U.S.

SUV: Bentley Bentayga Go big or go home right? Might as well outfit the garage with the world's most ridiculous SUV available.

Full-Size Luxury Car: Mercedes-Benz S-Class The new S-Class is filled to the brim with technology, stunning good looks and plenty of performance. And gosh, its interior is ridiculous.

Aston Martin Files for Aeroblade Trademark

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Aston Martin has filed a trademark for "Aeroblade."

According to the trademark application, Aeroblade will be used for "passenger cars and racing cars and parts and fittings therefor" hinting that it will likely be a part for a vehicle rather than a nameplate for a model. Based on the name, it might be a safe guess that the British automaker is working on a dynamic rear spoiler for its sports cars, something similar to what's found on various McLaren models.

Given the company's recent investments into the hardcore Vulcan, Aston Martin has likely developed aerodynamic components that could be used on its production models.

The next sports car to come from Aston Martin will be the DB11 that will launch late next year as the successor to the DB9. It is believed that at least one of the DB11's models will use a turbocharged V8 powerplant, but Aston Martin will also continue its tradition of equipping the sports car with a naturally aspirated V12.

Discuss this story on our Aston Martin Forum

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This Patent Filling Could Reveal the Next Honda Odyssey

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Honda has filed a patent for a future minivan model that could preview the next-generation Honda Odyssey.

But before we jump to conclusions, the patent images published by Japan's patent office today do closely resemble the Honda Concept M that debuted in 2013. When that concept was originally introduced, Honda confirmed it was making progress in the development of a mass-production vehicle based on the Concept M and was hoping to introduce it to the Chinese market by 2014. That time has come and gone and the Concept M hasn't come closer to reality, but it appears Honda could be moving forward with its plans again.

It is, however, another possibility that the patent images preview the next-generation Odyssey, sporting styling changes that closely resemble recent updates to other Honda and Acura models.

For the most part, minivan sales have become stagnant over recent years, giving way to more popular crossover and SUV models. Still, the Honda Odyssey continues to be a strong contender and it makes sense for Honda to continue offering it, competing against the new Chrysler Town & Country and the popular Toyota Sienna.

Discuss this story on our Honda Odyssey Forum

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Toyota to Debut New Map System for Driverless Cars

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Toyota will show off a new map generation system at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

The new system will aid the safe implementation of self-driving vehicles and is a high-precision map generation system that utilizes data from onboard cameras and GPS devices installed in production vehicles. On display early next month in Las Vegas, the new system uses camera-equipped production vehicles to gather road images and vehicle positional information, which is sent to data centers where it is automatically pieced together, corrected and updated to create high-precision road maps that cover a wide area.

The Japanese automaker believes a robust understanding of road layouts and traffic rules, including speed limits and road signs, is vital for self-driving cars. Until now, map data for autonomous vehicles has been generated through specially built vehicles with three-dimensional laser scanners. With Toyota's new system, it will be able to generate high-precision road image data by simply relying on existing technology found in production vehicles.

According to the company, it will include the map generation system as a core element in its automated vehicles by around 2020.

Discuss this story on our Toyota Forum

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Car Reviews

Wednesday, 23 December 2015