2016 Chevy Volt earns 106 MPGe

The figures are now official and the EPA has certified the all-new 2016 Chevrolet Volt with a 106 MPGe overall economy rating. That's up from the automaker's initial 102 MPGe preliminary estimate and 8 MPGe beyond the 2015 Volt's figure. The Gen II Volt also boasts a 42-mpg combined fuel economy rating versus the 40-mpg stat of the current model

Along with its more-efficient 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder range-extender gasoline engine, the 2016 Volt also features a higher-capacity 18.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack that allows it to travel up to 53 miles on a single charge -- a 40-percent bump relative to its 2015 counterpart. Total range of the new Volt also has risen by just over 10 percent, to 420 miles

We listened to our customers," said Andrew Farah, Volt chief engineer, "They were very clear when they told us that they wanted more range -- and a fun driving experience behind the wheel." With its improved EV range, Chevy anticipates that owners will be able to complete 90 percent of their trips in the redesigned 2016 Volt using battery power alone compared to the current 80 percent level of all-electric operation. To date, Gen I Volt owners have racked up well over half a billion miles of zero-emission running since Chevrolet's groundbreaking extended-range plug-in originally launched as a 2011 model

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2016 Chevrolet Spark redesigned

Cheeky, feisty, and eminently affordable, Chevrolet's Spark minicar gets a substantial makeover for the 2016 model year, enhancing style, structure, and power. Supported by a new architecture, the redesigned Spark is a little less boxy than the current car, thanks in part to a substantial 1.6-inch reduction in height (to 59.4 inches) and bodyside resculpting that carries a character crease from the front fender flare all the way to the rear of the car

The new nose is consistent with Chevy's current family look, but the new headlights are angled a little more toward the horizontal, combining with the lowered roofline to make the vehicle look less boxy

New platform

The new chassis allowed the design team to move the wheels out to the edges of the wheel wells, giving the new exterior a tightly wrapped appearance. It adds up to a more sophisticated look for this tiny urbanite

And let's not forget the three new colors: Toasted Marshmallow, Kalamata, and Splash

Although the roofline has been substantially reduced, Chevrolet says the interior team preserved headroom by lowering the H point in the seats

The new skin surrounds a new architecture, which Chevy describes as "more robust," without rigidity specifics, and a "slightly longer wheelbase." Aside from the lower roofline, vehicle dimensions are yet to be revealed

New drivetrain

A new engine sends power to the front wheels, replacing the current 1.2-liter 4-cylinder powerplant. The replacement is a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder, from GM's new line of Ecotec high efficiency, small displacement engines. It's all aluminum, a departure from the iron block/aluminum head combo of the 1.2-liter, and is fed by a direct fuel injection system, versus the previous engine's port injection

Prior to the show, Chevrolet was mum about the new engine's output, although it's a good bet it will exceed the 84 horsepower and 83 pound-feet of torque of the current engine

The standard transmission will continue to be a manual, and the option is once again a continuously variable automatic (CVT). EPA fuel economy ratings are yet to be revealed, but we anticipate that they'll be substantially higher than those of the current Spark-30 mpg city, 39 highway with the CVT

Upgraded interior

New interior features include upgraded materials, new instrument panel, new center stack with a capacitive touch display screen, and enhanced infotainment and connectivity, including GM's new 4G LTE onboard WiFi

The new Spark is due to go on sale in the fourth quarter of this year. Pricing remains to be seen, although it's certain the Spark will continue to be Chevy's least expensive passenger car. Current Spark pricing ranges from $13,095 to $17,350

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Infiniti Q60 Coupe Concept previewed

The first official image of the Infiniti Q60 Concept has been released prior to its debut next week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Infiniti provided no additional details about this precursor to an all-new 2016 Q60 Coupe that will replace existing model sometime later this year. However, it's believed this sleek successor will share a good deal of its mechanicals with the current Infiniti Q50 Sedan. Given its role in the lineup, the car may boast a more potent powertrain than its 4-door kin

As the moody teaser images seen previously indicated, the Q60 Concept cranks up the exterior design flair on every level with bolder and more aggressive cues that Infiniti says "foreshadows the strong visual consistency" and edgier character that will influence the look of upcoming models. We'll know more soon

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2016 Honda Civic Concept previews dramatic new lineup

Bigger, bolder, and even more sophisticated in design and demeanor, the 2016 Honda Civic Concept got its global reveal in New York. While specifics about the upcoming production variant were limited, John Mendel, executive vice president, Automobile Division, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. did stress that the all-new tenth-generation Civic "will be, flat out, the most dynamic, the most technologically advanced and the most refined and stylish Civic we've ever made." Set to launch here this fall in sedan form, the 2016 Civic lineup will also include the Coupe and a new 5-door Hatchback variant which will arrive shortly thereafter. Enthusiasts will be delighted to know that in addition to updated 2016 Si models, a version of the ultra-hot Civic Type-R variant set to launch in Europe also has been greenlighted for the U.S. at some point

With styling primarily influenced by Honda's LA-based design studio, this new Gen 10 Civic previewed in Coupe form matches its more aggressively sculpted bodywork with equally bold proportions highlighted by a longer hood, shorter front overhang, more set-back greenhouse and a shorter rear deck. Guy Melville-Brown, Chief Exterior designer of the Civic Concept, Honda R&D Americas describes the look as "charismatic, connected and athletic," with an "in-motion, street fighter" stance. The Civic Concept sets this new look off with full LED lighting, which given Honda's tendency to make its volume-build follow-ups stay close to their concept originals, bodes well for that feature to be available on at least some Civic variants. Although we'll have to wait for a first look at the new Civic's passenger compartment, Mendel promised that it, too, will set new precedents for style and sophistication among its peers

More spacious and safer, too

While still a technical compact, the new Civic is slightly larger overall and has a longer wheelbase than the current car. Its all-new platform architecture incorporates the next-generation of Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure and the Civic will offer the full Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety/driver-assist technologies, including Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, Multi-Angle Rearview Camera, Adaptive Cruise Control and Honda LaneWatch

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2016 Ferrari 488 Spider set to fly in Frankfurt

Ready to make its formal public debut this September at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the 2016 Ferrari 488 Spider is gearing up to become the al fresco runningmate to the new Ferrari 488 GTB that was unveiled earlier this year in Geneva. The automaker says this newest family member is not only the most potent V8-powered mid/rear-engine car it has ever created but also the most aerodynamically efficient spider to roll of the assembly line in Maranello

Elegantly aggressive

Like the 488 GTB Coupe, the new 488 Spider features an aluminum-intensive spaceframe and body panels. Despite its open configuration, the engineering team managed to maintain the same level of torsional rigidity and stiffness as found in its Coupe counterpart - a gain of some 23 percent compared to the 458 Spider it replaces. The two-piece power-retractable hardtop - itself a structural member - can be cycled in just 14 seconds and sits flush atop the engine when lowered. To maintain optimal airflow patterns, designers at the Ferrari Styling Center comprehensively reworked the 488 Spider's roof treatment, a rethink that yielded sleek new flying buttresses that frame a reconfigured engine cover and sculpted mesh air intakes

660 horsepower and attitude to burn

Like the 488 GTB, the 488 Spider features Ferrari's new 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 that makes 660 horsepower and 561 lb-ft of peak torque. Driving the rear wheels via a 7-speed F1-style dual-clutch automatic with variable torque management, the 488 Spider can sprint from 0-62 mph in 3.0 seconds, hit 125 mph in 8.7 ticks and top out at 203 mph. Weighing in at 3,362 pounds, the new Spider is about 110 pounds heavier than the 488 GTB but almost 25 pounds lighter than the 458 Spider

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