According to an article in Mag-X (via Temple of VTEC), Honda is hard at work wrapping up the design for the next-gen Civic that’s expected to debut in 2011 as a 2012 model. As is customary from Honda, the Japanese, European and North American markets are all expected to get their own unique versions of the popular Civic, with Americans getting their preferred sedan and coupe bodystyles and the other countries each receiving differing takes on the hatchback theme.

As you would expect, there will be a hybrid version of the 2012 Civic, and it’s again slated to get a 1.5-liter gasoline-powered engine mated to Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist technology. This powerplant will reportedly be shared with the upcoming CR-Z hybrid hatchback where it will be available with either an automatic CVT transmission or six-speed manual.

Hopefully, we’ll see how accurate all of this is when the Tokyo Motor Show rolls into town this October, where a production prototype of the 2011 CR-Z is expected to be shown. Thanks for the tip, Jason!

[Source: Mag-X via Temple of VTEC]

If you poll owners (and reviewers) of the Smart ForTwo you’ll find one consistent gripe: the transmission. The automated manual gearbox herks, jerks and is about as dynamically pleasing as petting your dog with a broom.

Apparently, Smart is listening, and in addition to tweaking the software on the 2009 ForTwo, the automaker is offering 24,622 owners of 2008 models the same transmission fix. Letters are being delivered to let owners know about the free software upgrade, and while the fix supposedly makes a difference, the few people we’ve talked to who’ve driven the 2009 model assure us that while the shifting is better, it’s still very far from perfect.

Nissan has announced that they are recalling some 360,000 first generation Murano CUVs because of an engine stall risk. Apparently, the material they used for their air intake ducts is prematurely aging and shrinking, causing a separation risk in the system. That separation can cause an engine stall, “increasing the risk of a crash.” The affected models are the 2003 through 2007 Nissan Muranos.

Anyone with one of those models should contact their Nissan service rep to arrange a free inspection and/or repair. Customers can also call Nissan directly at 1-800-647-7261. The parts for the recall should be available in great enough quantity by July 6, when the recall officially begins. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s full press release is after the jump.

This is just the latest in a string of recalls for the popular first-gen Nissan Murano, following seat belt, fuel tank, and electrical problems. Hat tip to Art!

[Source: NHTSA]

Joseph Heller’s novel Catch-22 is an assault on bureaucratic circular logic, and when talk turns to Chrysler’s bankruptcy, you can almost picture the book’s character, Yossarian, shaking his head about the latest developments surrounding warranty claims. Current Chrysler owners might find themselves owning vehicular orphans whether or not the company manages to stick around in some form. Chrysler’s bankruptcy deal, where there’s an upside and a downside to the Schwartz, could see the new, “Good” Chrysler floating above any responsibility for any Chrysler vehicle sold before the bankruptcy.

Consumers groups, realizing that buyers will have no recourse, have filed an objection that’s spurred a quickly organized hearing of the House Judiciary Committee. According to a report by ABC<, the new Chrysler has agreed to cover normal warranty claims, but when some new issue that would normally prompt a recall campaign pops up – or some other kind of defect rears its ugly head – the company would want nothing to do with it. Bad thingamajigy covered, horrible manufacturing or design defect that causes you injury, not covered. No right to sue, either.

It’s not like Chrysler vehicles have stellar resale values now, but if this is how things shake out, the machinations to avoid standing behind its product are likely to further devalue anything wearing a Pentastar.

[Source: ABC]

For as long as there has been traffic enforcement, drivers from different states have gathered to compare notes on whose police and legal systems are the most oppressive and toughest to deal with. While most such conversations rarely progress beyond the anecdotal, the folks over at the National Motorists Association have actually gone to the trouble of ranking all 50 states using a set of seventeen criteria, just in time to adjust your travel plans ahead of this weekend’s Memorial Day holiday.

The list was compiled by weighing such factors as ‘Speed Traps Per Capita,” the use of speed and red-light cameras, as well as legal factors like the presence of mayor’s courts, the availability of trial-by-declaration, and so on.

We’re not sure we agree with each of the criterion (e.g. singling out whether cellular phone use is legal), but it’s a very interesting list all the same, and might give you some fuel for the inevitable water cooler discussion following your next moving violation.

Click on the jump to see the full list of factors and where your stomping grounds stack up among the least motorist-friendly states in the nation. Hot tip, Frank!

Yugo production wound down in 2008, but Zastava’s little cars still engender plenty of love, and fans of the brand recently converged on a Belgrade park with their cars. To be sure, Yugos never rolled out of the Kragujevac factory in the candy-flavored hues of some of the lovingly modified and restored rides that showed up, but Zastava and fans of its cars all but burst with pride. You’re not likely to see a gathering of Yugos, at least one so large, here in the States, but on a May day in Belgrade, all sorts of cars produced throughout the company’s history, from its earliest “Fica” model up to the latest Zastava 10, gathered in one spot for this giant Yugo party. Maybe once you peruse the massive gallery, you’ll be so inspired that you start scouring for sale ads, looking for your own Yugo to take to a picnic.

Leave it up to Geiger Cars to build a lime green, 890-horsepower Chevrolet Corvette Z06. The force behind flamboyant creations like the Gulf-Wing Hummer and the Santa-style H2 have turned their attention to American muscle once again and have introduced an abundance of new performance parts for the Z06 featured in this over-the-top Vette.

The bi-turbo package includes an increase in displacement to 7.6-liters and upgraded cylinder heads, valve springs, cams, a larger mass air meter, and a less-restrictive exhaust system in addition to the dual turbochargers. The result is an impressive 890 horsepower and 694 lb-ft torque, as well as a reported top speed of 220 mph. The drivetrain has been beefed up accordingly with a sturdier twin-disc clutch and a carbon fiber driveshaft.

This being a Geiger effort, the car in question also features the company’s body kit, adjustable coilovers, and larger brakes both front and rear.

No more spy shots. GM has formally unveiled the Vauxhall Insignia VXR Sports Tourer (a.k.a. the Opel Insignia OPC Sports Tourer on the other side of the Chunnel). By now, you’re probably seen the specs, but we’ll go over them again for the sake of being complete. 325 horses are corralled in the 2.8-liter turbo V6 underhood. Yep, that’s a six-speed stick you see in the attached photo gallery, and both all-wheel drive and eLSD are standard. Stopping power is supplied by Brembo, the seats are by Recaro, and the overall appearance is liberally sprinkled with awesome. All told, the whole package is good for a zero-to-60 run in six seconds flat, which has us dreaming of this car, in this color, wearing the Buick Tri-Shield up front. Maybe Grand National badges on the fenders, too.

Okay, so we were wrong about the venue. This weekend, against the backdrop of the Nürburgring 24, Volkswagen will unveil the 265-horsepower Scirocco R to the public. The specs are unchanged from what we reported last night. The Scirocco shares its 265-horsepower/350 Nm (258 lb-ft) 2.0L turbo four with the Audi S3, but unlike the latter, the VW is a front-driver. Drivers pick gears via either a 6-speed stick or DSG, and the VW Scirocco R gets the XDS electronic differential featured in the new GTI. On the tarmac, the Scirocco R makes the run from zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 6.5 seconds with the manual gearbox. (Shave off another tenth with the DSG.) Outside, the bodywork apes that of the Scirocco GT24 racer, five of which will be competing in the 24-hour enduro at the Nordschleife. A meaner face, larger roof spoiler, dual exhaust outlets, 18-inch “Talladega” wheels, and the requisite badging visually separate the Scirocco R from its more sedate-looking siblings.

Audi’s not alone in bringing a customized production ride to the 2009 Wörthersee meet. Volkswagon’s one-upping the interlocking rings by bringing two production-based concept cars: special Wörthersee ‘09 versions of the new VW GTI and Polo. The GTI’s bodywork is finished in a dark Firespark Red color, offset with black wheels and exterior accents. The red is also used for the GTI’s grille trim and to dress up the rims on its black 19-spoke alloys. Nappa leather trims the seats, with red contrast panels and white piping adding some more visual pop.

The VW Polo Wörthersee ‘09 concept (shown at right) looks like the GTI concept’s kid brother, and likely hints at the next-gen Polo GTI’s appearance. Finished in Flash Red paint with black rally stripes, the Polo concept sports black 18-inch wheels with polished spokes sit at the corners, while inside, you’ll find more Nappa leather appointments. Black surfaces are accented with white contrast panels and red accent stitching.

Both cars get sport exhaust systems and the obligatory commemorative doorsill plates, natch. Will the crush of fanboys rolling into the Wörthersee Tour approve of the two show cars? We’d place our bets on “yes.”