2012 Nissan GT-R Facelift to be Debut at LA Auto Show

The North American market version of the revised Nissan GT-R supercar will make its first public appearance on this side of the Atlantic at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 17th, the Japanese automaker announced today.

Semi-revealed at the Paris Motor Show earlier this month, the latest version of the GT-R gains a barely noticeable exterior makeover with a new front bumper featuring some rather tacky LED daytime running lights, a revised rear diffuser and new alloy wheel designs. Nissan says the exterior revisions improve the car's aerodynamics.

The GT-R also benefits from a refreshed interior and according to Nissan, enhanced performance with full details on the North American version to be released at the Los Angeles show.

The Japanese supercar will be designated as a 2012 model when it reaches Nissan showrooms in the United States and Canada early in the 2011 calendar year.

Stay tuned on Carscoop as we'll bring you details on the Japanese market version of the updated GT-R, which was released today.

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2011 Mitsubishi Outlander with New 2.2-liter Diesel and 2WD Variant Announced for the UK

Following the limited release of the special edition Outlander Juro in July, Mitsubishi UK has announced details and pricing on the series production version of the facelifted SUV. On sale now, the 2011 Outlander with the Evo-like snout is offered with two turbo diesel engines, a new Mitsubishi-developed 175HP 2.2 Di-D matched to a 6-speed manual gearbox and a 154HP 2.2 Di-D turbo diesel SST PSA unit combined with a twin clutch automated manual transmission.

For the first time in Britain, Mitsubishi is also presenting a two-wheel drive diesel variant of the Outlander which is available only with the 175HP unit that returns a combined fuel economy of 46.3mpg UK compared to 43.5 mpg UK of the equivalent 4WD model.

Prices, including 17.5% VAT and the delivery costs but not Government Road Fund Licence and First Registration Fee, start from £21,549 for the base model with the 154HP diesel and 4WD.

New Chevrolet Orlando MPV Shows up in Paris (With Live Pictures)

Finally, we've got live pics of the new Chevy Orlando. Essentially the General's answer to the European mid-size MPV question, the small, Cruze-based 7-seater had a bunch of promise back when it originally debuted as a concept.

Somewhere between there and this year's Paris Motor Show, all the old, Judge Whitey executives in the General's back pocket found a way to crush any chance of it being cool by turning the stocky little MPV into an ass-in-the-air high-ish-riding mini-minivan...unless there's an air suspension system I don't know about.

You can see that the interior keeps the decent styling inherited from its platform-mate and appears to actually be sourced from the original concept. Too bad the same can't be said for the rest.

When this little box goes on sale in early 2011, methinks the best things about the whole package are the trick dashboard cubby and its two available diesel torque-makers.

As for the rest, attractive European MPV it ain't. For the full info and specs, check out our previous post, and to see how the Orlando stacks up against the concept, head on over to our Concept to Reality comparo.

By Phil Alex

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New Mazda BT-50 Pickup Truck: First Photos of Ford Ranger's Sister Model

Shortly after the reveal of the 2011 Ford Ranger that we told you about in our previous post, Mazda released the first photos of the all-new BT-50. As we've mentioned many times before, the two pickup truck models are the result of a collaboration between Ford and Mazda and will both get their world premiere at this week's Australian International Motor Show in Sydney.

The Japanese automaker's iteration of the compact pickup truck theme gets its own unique exterior cues and interior styling inspired by the firm's passenger car range. Though far less aggressive than originally implied on the first teaser sketches, the BT-50's exterior design is more funky than it's Ford sibling. The same can be said about the interior which is said to feature all the accommodations of a passenger car.

Here's what Mazda had to say about the new BT-50 in its teaser press release:

"It offers all the functionality required for business use combined with passenger car-like comfort for family use; and for active customers in Australia and Europe, it is the perfect answer for all kinds of outdoor leisure activities.

"With modern and refined styling both inside and out, the All-New Mazda BT-50 will raise the bar in the utility segment and for the first time provide a realistic alternative to the family wagon and 4x4 SUV."

Though the company is still holding back on the technical details, buyers should expect a similar engine range to the new Ford Ranger, which you can read more about here.

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All-New Ford Ranger Compact Pickup Truck Revealed but it's not for "U.S."

The wraps are off the all-new for 2011, Ford Ranger pickup truck which makes its worldwide debut at this week's Australian International Motor Show in Sydney before going on sale in 180 markets around the world but not -you guessed it- in the USA.

Like its predecessor, Ford's new Ranger was developed in cooperation with Mazda, which will also unveil its version of the compact pickup truck called the BT-50 in Sydney.

The new Ranger moves a step closer to passenger cars in terms of styling, interior appointments as well as technology features. It will be available in three different cab body styles, 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains, two ride heights and four series choices.

It is powered by a choice of two new common rail Ford Duratorq TDCi diesels, a 2.2-liter TDCi four-cylinder unit with 150HP and 375Nm [277 lb-ft], or a 3.2-liter TDCi inline-five rated at 200HP and 470Nm [347 lb-ft], and new six-speed automatic and manual transmissions.

The 4WD models are equipped with an electronically controlled transfer case that allows drivers to shift from 4x2 to 4x4 through an electronic switch located on the console, while low range gearing can also be enabled.

Ford said that the cargo box of the new Double Cab is more than 100mm wider than before - 1,549mm long by 511mm high and with a maximum cargo width of 1,560mm. Volume is rated at 1.21 cubic meters.

All Ranger models will come equipped with a new Electronic Stability Program (ESP) system that includes four-wheel traction control, yaw control and roll-over mitigation, as standard. Other new technologies include Rear Park Assist and new Rearview Camera system, plus the availability of side curtain airbags on all cab styles for the first time.

Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe, said: "The new Ranger is an exciting and dynamic vehicle that will undoubtedly raise the bar in the pickup market. The scope of its capability and technology are further evidence of how powerful the One Ford initiative is in helping us globally to develop a whole range of all-new class-leading vehicles. We look forward to bringing new Ranger to European customers by 2012 and I am confident it will exceed their expectations."

The new Ford Ranger will be built at three sites with series production scheduled to begin next summer, initially in Rayong, Thailand. Ford said it is also planning to manufacture the new pickup truck at its plants in Argentina and South Africa.

GALLERY