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Fuel-efficient city cars are being created at automaker R&D departments the world over, and even BMW plans on getting in on the action. BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer has confirmed that the German automaker was working on a 'mega city car' that will carry an all-new look, and two powertrains. One micro car will receive motivation with the aid of standard combustion, but the other will be pure electric. The electric vehicle will also comply with a California mandate that by 2012 there must be a fuel cell or battery-powered car that can travel 200 on a single charge. For comparison sake, GM promises at least 40 miles for the Chevy Volt, and Mitsubishi is looking at 100 mpg for the iMiEV.

It's also worth mentioning that the BMW CEO specifically pointed out that it meets California regulations, signaling that the vehicle would be available Stateside. There is still no word regarding which of BMW's three brands would be used for the vehicle, but we're still very sure it won't be a Rolls Royce.

Source: autoblog.com

One of the few problems with being the purveyors of a highly desired commodity is that people will do anything to get their hands on it, sometimes before you're willing to give it to them. Such is the case with Nissan and people importing GT-R's into Australia through the "grey-market."

A supposedly leaked memo from Nissan Australia to dealers Down Under requests that they keep an eye out for grey-market GT-Rs and to send in a tip to Nissan HQ reporting the "potential damage" and "stolen customers" that the vehicles are apparently causing. While we understand that Nissan is trying to protect sales, the fact remains that if the GT-R was obtained through legal means, there's not much they can do about it. And we highly doubt that many of Nissan's potential customers are going to go through the hassle of importing a GT-R when sales are expected to being in the early part of 2009.

Have teenagers gone nuts? The Federal Highway Administration is reporting that the percentage of teenagers with driver's licenses is going down. Yeah, decreasing! What is up with that?

When I was growing up, my teenage years focused on just one objective... driving. All I wanted was to get my driver's license. That little card with your picture on it was the golden ticket. You could borrow your parent's car, fill the tank (and grab a candy bar) for $20, and nobody could reach you until you returned. We didn't have cell phones, text messaging or GPS tracking. A driver's license represented freedom.

So, what happened? Experts aren't blaming unmotivated teenagers. Instead, they point the finger at the environment in which we are raising our kids. In today's world, parents are much more likely to chauffeur their teenagers from place to place. Tighter state laws govern when kids can drive, and in many cases legislation has pushed the driving age limit higher. Fewer high schools are offering driver's education classes, forcing parents to pay for more expensive private instruction, and steeper rates are making insurance cost-prohibitive for the high-risk teen-age category. Top it all off with gasoline at more than three-dollars per gallon, and maybe a driver's license just doesn't represent what it used to.

Source: autoblog.com

We usually trust the guys at Fourtitude.com when talking about Audi because, well, that's their thing. So when they say that an upcoming über TTRS is in the product plans for Audi's U.S. lineup, we're inclined to believe. The all-Audi website is betting that the super coupe will be powered by a beefed-up, turbocharged five-cylinder engine, which is not surprising considering that sister brand Volkswagen makes great use of a 2.5L five-cylinder in its lineup. For Audi, however, this engine would be producing upwards of 350 horsepower despite a rumor that it is even smaller in displacement at 2.3 liters. Of course, it will feature Audi's FSI direct injection system and Valvelift variable valve timing systems, which will improve both economy and power. Expect torque to be prodigious.

Meanwhile, speculation on the RS version of the Audi A5 is less certain, with a number of engines mentioned by other media outlets as being the car's mill of choice. A twin-turbo V10 (unlikely), a naturally-aspirated V10 FSI (possible), forced-induction 4.2L FSI V8 (maybe), and the RS4's 4.2L V8 (could be) are all candidates and all promise 400+ horsepower.

After the unmitigated success of the R8, we have total faith Audi can produce a pair of RS coupes that keep our blood boiling. We're particularly excited by the prospect of a TT coupe with 350+ horsepower, as we've yet to drive a version of the bauhaus coupe that we felt was fast enough.

We've got to give GM props on this one, since, unlike other automakers, it's blacked-out teaser isn't nearly as susceptible to Photoshop trickery. Regardless, Saab put up the image above on its media site announcing what we already knew: the Saab 9-1X concept is coming to Geneva and it's going to take all the right cues from its bigger brothers Although the head-on shot gives us some clues about the concept's wide stance and aggressive snout, what we really want to know is how the designers have shaped the rear hatch. While it's assumed that a sloping rear roofline will terminate into a bulbous back end, we've heard rumors that a large overhang will be fitted at the top of the roof to give a sort of reverse-ducktail. The Geneva Motor Show is fast approaching and we're looking forward to seeing how Saab plans to do battle with the Audi A3 and Volvo C30.