If the recently released 2012 Chevrolet Trax is any indication, Chevy design is about to head in a whole new direction.

The automaker released the first image of its small sport utility vehicle recently, showing off a brand new model that will officially debut at the Paris Motor Show this September. Chevrolet is looking to deliver SUV muscle with small car performance, and is also promising build quality and refinement that belies its value. More...

Few things have so dramatically altered the automotive landscape in the way that the rush for fuel efficiency has in the last decade. Unpredictable gas prices and a new focus on environmental responsibility has us all searching for new ways to save at the pump.

It’s driven automakers to new levels of innovation with advancements in lightweight materials, direct injection and valve timing, smaller engine displacement and even alternative fuels. These are all well and good, and certainly do improve the mileage we squeeze out of our vehicles. But what else can be done on top of all this new technology?

Turns out, it may be as simple as throwing pill into the tank. An eco-focused company called Greenfoot Global™ may have discovered a new advancement that not only improves fuel economy, but also increases power and reduces emissions at the same time.

Greenfoot Global™ created a product called EnviroTabs®, an organometallic metal conditioner that, when dropped into your gas tank, causes the chemical reaction that powers your car to occur at a lower temperature. That means the mini-explosions will occur in the power stroke of the engine rather than the exhaust, and your engine will reach more of its potential in both performance and economy. More...

For 27 years, the Nissan Pathfinder has earned its keep in the SUV ranks the hard way: with real off-road truck-based performance together with enough civility to double as a daily driver.

Still Burly After All These Years

The 2012 Nissan Pathfinder is no different. With deeply cleated P265/60R18 BFGoodrich Long Trail T/A tires, three rows of seating, a torquey 4.0-liter V6 engine and four-wheel independent suspension, it has the makings of a genuine year-round workhorse. From off-roading in Appalachia to shuttling the ubiquitous swim team or towing a lightweight boat, the Pathfinder—now in its eighth year on this platform—has always been game.

Out on the left coast, there’s never any shortage of stuff to haul, from surfboards to mountain bikes—or events to attend, from marathons to motocross races. So it was easy to press the Pathfinder into service hauling a trailer and a street bike from SoCal up to the fourth annual Quail Motorcycle Gathering in Carmel, Calif. With the trailer weighing under 1000 pounds and the motorcycle weighing about 450 pounds more, the total load for the Pathfinder was far below its rated 6000-pound capacity, and the V6 never struggled with the weight on our 500-mile round trip. And a built-in hitch receiver and four-pin trailer-wiring jack truly made it a plug-and-go operation. Observed fuel mileage during the freeway portion of our trip was 18.8 mpg on 87-octane regular unleaded. More...

The plug-in hybrid Porsche 918 Spyder supercar is undergoing the next phase of testing in Atlanta and the automaker has leaked these photos of the futuristic car, draped in nostalgic Porsche 917 racing livery, out on the twisties.

Porsche expects to begin building production 918 Spyders in September 2013, delivering the first examples to owners a few months later. But in the meantime, they continue to tweak and perfect the inner workings of a highly complicated advancement in automotive technology.

With power from a 4.6-liter mid-mounted V8, plus a hybrid module at the rear and an electric motor on the front axle, the 918 Spyder is expected to produce a combined 770 horsepower. At the same time, Porsche has disclosed fuel consumption at just three liters per 100 kilometers, which works out to more than 78.3 mpg. All this in a car that can run 15 miles on pure electricity and reach 200 mph with a 0-60 mph time under three seconds.

It goes without saying that perfecting the system is no simple task. Engineers are now turning their attention to the way that the two electric motors work together with the dry-sump V8.

“They are therefore a critical component in this vehicle into which we have put all of our expertise and capacity for innovation,” said Wolfgang Hatz, Porsche head of Research and Development and Volkswagen head of Engines and Transmissions Development, in a press release.

The 918 Spyder looks to have kept the same design since we saw it last, with a rear fascia reminiscent of the Porsche GT1 racer and an overall shape nodding back to the Porsche Carrera GT. Exhaust pipes breach the surface above the mid-mounted V8 and a deployable rear wing stands at attention.

But the rear beauty is hidden underneath all the bodywork. Porsche is making no secret of the fact that they plan to transfer hybrid and plug-in knowledge learned from this project over to other production models in the future. How long before we see a plug-in Panamera, or Cayenne? Or (gasp!) 911 Carrera?

Stateside enthusiasts have been calling for the return of station wagons for years, and they’ll get their wish next Spring when the BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon enters U.S. dealerships.

BMW recently announced that the athletic wagon, a favorite the world over, will make its return in Spring 2013. The stretched version of the quintessential BMW has enjoyed a reputation for combining utility with performance, and it appears the new 3 Series Sports Wagon will continue to carry that torch.

The 2012 3 Series Sports Wagon will be available in a variety of trims such as the Sport Line, Luxury Line and Modern Line. Of course, the one everyone will be thirsting for is the M Sport Line.

While the European version, the 3 Series Touring, will appear in 328i, 330d and 320d versions, we’ll have to wait to find out which models are U.S.-bound. The available engines have not yet been announced, either.

What we do know is that the 3 Series Sports Wagon will look good and deliver an inspiring drive. Designers took the new look of the 3 Series, and extended it with powerful curves and tight lines to create an athletic stance. BMW slightly flared the fenders, which accentuates a wider track that is cooled with the aid of strategically placed air intakes on the front fascia.

Of course, utility is also a top priority for the 3 Series Sports Wagon. For the first time, BMW will offer a power tailgate to access the cargo space just by pressing a button. Customers that opt for the Hands Free Opening Tailgate can open the tailgate simply by swinging their foot under the rear bumper. Storage compartments lie underneath the cargo space, and the rear seats can be folded down for a 40:20:40 split.

Driving assists and comforts such as full-color Head-Up Display, Lane Departure Warning and Blind Spot Detection, rear-view camera and Parking Assistant will also be available options.

BMW has not announced pricing yet, but expect the 2013 3 Series Sports Wagon to fight in the same weight class as the Audi A4 Avant and Mercedes E350 4MATIC.