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Toyota recalls Highlander and Lexus hybrids, IS and GS sedans

Toyota announced two recalls on Wednesday that include 369,000 vehicles worldwide, 235,000 of which are in the United States. The hybrids have a problem with a transistor, while the 3.5-liter V6 is having problems with its variable valve timing control device. The first recall includes Highlander Hybrid models from 2006-2010 and the Lexus RX 400h from 2006-2008.

Jeep introduces Polar Edition Wrangler for Frankfurt show

Jeep Wrangler special editions are revealed like clockwork, if there hasn't been a new one in an hour, just wait a little bit longer. For the Frankfurt motor show next week, the company is bringing the Wrangler Polar Edition. This special edition features 18-inch gloss black rims, a body-color hardtop and a selection of Mopar accessories.

One Lap of the Web: falling rocks, falling prices, and a Ford Frontenac?

-- If this isn't the automotive video of the week, then we don't know what is. A car in Taiwan just barely avoids being crushed by a gigantic boulder, whose water and mud bow wave shoves the car a few feet before the boulder even lands anywhere near the car. Watch the top of the hill at the very start of the video.

Audi Sport quattro Concept

Celebrating 30 years of the Sport Quattro, Audi has revealed its spiritual successor ahead of its debut at next week's Frankfurt motor show. The broad concept – which measures in at 4,602mm long, 1,964mm wide, 1,386mm high sitting on a wheelbase of 2,784mm – features a number of the same design cues we saw on the 2010 quattro concept, the 1983 Sport quattro and the original Ur-quattro. These include the angular, flat C-pillars and the rectangular headlamps and rear lamps.

Ford Mondeo Vignale revealed – it’s back to the days of Ford Ghia

The Ford Mondeo Vignale (picture) has been revealed as Ford’s new range-topper Mainstream car makers have always tried to add some glitz and gloss to their models by tagging on a badge they thought made their cars more exclusive. Like Ford with endless ‘Ghia’ models sitting at the top of the Ford range after they bought Ghia of Turin in 1970. Ford continued to use the Ghia badge to mark out its best-equipped models until very recently (you could still buy a Fiesta Ghia as recently as 2008) but they finally dropped the badge and moved their top of the tree badge over to the ‘Titanium’ moniker.

Audi Sport Quattro concept to wow Frankfurt Motor Show 2013

Audi will reveal a stunning Sport Quattro concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2013 – the spiritual successor to the brilliant 1980s Audi Sport Quattro. With a 700hp V8 hybrid drivetrain capable of 189mph AND 113mpg, it really is a legend reborn for modern times. Audi is debuting the Sport Quattro concept in Frankfurt 30 years after the original Sport Quattro was shown at the very same show.

Lexus LF-NX concept (2013) at Frankfurt motor show

This is the Lexus LF-NX concept SUV. It’s a BMW X3-sized crossover that’ll sport hybrid power and entice would-be Lexus buyers who don’t need a car as big as the RX hybrid SUV. That is, if the crazy styling doesn’t put them off, because this is certainly one of the more polarising concept designs we’ve seen in recent times.

Audi Sport Quattro concept (2013) at Frankfurt motor show

The Audi Sport Quattro Concept will be shown at Frankfurt as a spiritual successor to the 1980s rallying legend. This time, the road-going version can muster 0-62mph in a stonking 3.7sec and top 189mph thanks to its 690bhp drivetrain.  Haven’t we seen an Audi Quattro Concept before? Yes – but this is a different take on the 2010 Quattro concept, and may make it into showrooms.

Chrysler to release 30th Anniversary Edition minivans

This year has seen quite a few important automotive milestones. Aston Martin celebrated its centennial, and the Porsche 911 turned 50, as did the Lotus Elan. Even Cunningham had a milestone to celebrate, with the marque founded by Briggs Cunningham turning 60.

2014 Land Rover LR4 goes supercharged V6, stop/start tech

Land Rover revealed the details of the 2014 Discovery on Tuesday. In the States we know the big SUV as the Land Rover LR4. A supercharged 3.0-liter V6 will replace the 5.0-liter V8 and an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission will replace the old six-speed.

Five Minutes of The Monterey Motorsports Reunion

Producer Harry Pallenberg is almost done with his historical race track DVD “Where They Raced,” which ghost-hunts all the great race tracks of Southern California, from Beverly Hills board tracks, to Gilmore Stadium to Ascot and Lions drag strip. It should be pretty good when it's done, but it's not done yet. “I am having some issues clearing some of the footage,” Pallenberg said.

One lap of the web: Lego 'Rush' and spy shots of the Lexus GS F

The latest Lego parody video is online, based on the new Formula One movie "Rush." It's the newest in the series of Lego spoofs, which range from Darth Vader to "Cars 2" to the London Olympics. Check it out here. The next Lexus GS F was caught without camouflage by Best Car magazine in Japan.

Bentley Continental V8 S (2013) at Frankfurt motor show

This is the new Bentley Continental V8 S, set to be unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt motor show. It’s the Bentley for buyers who don’t want (or can’t afford) the most potent W12 models, but don’t fancy an ‘entry level’ version of the V8 either. It’s got 521bhp, 502lb ft, and will hit 60mph in less than five seconds.

Audi Sport Quattro concept hits ahead of Frankfurt motor show

Audi is set to take next week's Frankfurt auto show by storm. It is unveiling the new 700-hp Sport Quattro concept -- a car promising to be a new technological flagship for Audi, and one that company insiders strongly hint will go into limited production. The concept is being created to celebrate the classic Sport Quattro's 30th anniversary.

Bentley Continental GT V8 S (& GTC V8 S) revealed

The Bentley Continental GT V8 S (pictured) has been revealed The Bentley Continental GT V8 has only been around for eighteen months, but it has garnered accolades in that time as a more focused Continental GT, despite its loss of power (and cylinders) compared to the original W12 engine. But now Bentley are capitalising on the V8′s favourable feedback with a more powerful version – the Bentley Continental GT V8 S – to add an even more sporty note to the GT’s offerings. The V8 S still keeps the twin-turbo V8 it shares with Audi, but it now gets a boost in power to deliver 521bhp and 502lb/ft of torque.

McLaren P1 – Driven by Jay Leno at the Top Gear track (video)

Jat Leno (pictured) drives the McLaren P1 at the Top Gear track at Dunsfold We reported just a few days ago that the McLaren P1 has all but sold out, and one of those buyers is America’s petrolhead in chief, Jay Leno. Even though Jay isn’t short of a few bob, he’s not going to be the wealthiest buyer of a P1 (by far), but his celebrity status has conferred on him something most P1 buyers won’t get – the chance to take to the Top Gear track at Dunsofold in the new P1 with McLaren’s Chris Goodwin (Chief Test Driver) riding shotgun. Prior to the run round Dunsfold, Jay gets a tour of the new P1 production centre (perhaps the cleanest car production centre in the UK) before being whisked off to Dunsfold by helicopter.

Land Rover Discovery facelift (2013) tweaked looks, engines and specs

While the long-wheelbase Range Rover and impressive new Range Sport hog the headlines, Land Rover has lavished a bit of TLC on its second-oldest model: the Discovery. New for this iteration are redesigned lights, a more economical engine, and a handful of extra techie options. Certainly doesn’t look like a nine-year old car, the Discovery… Strictly, this is an updated Discovery 4, which has only been on sale since 2009, but the 4 is essentially a heavily facelifted version of 2004’s Discovery 3: it retains the dual chassis unibody/body-on-frame construction responsible for the 2570kg kerb weight.

Land Rover Discovery gets a final facelift for 2014

The 2014 Land Rover Discovery (pictured) gets a bit of a facelift Ahead of a reveal at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week, Land Rover have revealed a facelift for the Discovery 4 as it comes to the end of its shelf life. The usual facelift fodder applies, with the Disco getting a revised front bumper, new grill and new headlights (with new LED running lights) and some nice new alloys. Land Rover has also replaced the ‘L A N D  R O V E R’ lettering on the bonnet to read ‘D I S C O V E R Y’ as the move to highlight the Discovery as a range of models to stand alongside Range Rover starts to take shape ahead of the new Freelander (which will be part of a new Discovery family of cars) and the eventual replacement for the Discovery 4.

Bentley to debut Continental GT V8 S and GTC V8 S at Frankfurt motor show

If you've always felt that the Bentley Continental GT V8 was a little short on power, then Bentley has a new model for you. Two new models, actually: the Continental GT V8 S and GTC V8 S, and Bentley has released details and images a week before their public debut at the 2013 Frankfurt motor show. Bentley engineers have managed to squeeze a bit more power out of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, bringing the horsepower rating from 500 up to 521.

Jaguar C-X17 Concept bringing SUV preview and new platform to Frankfurt

The Jaguar C-X17 concept will preview one of the brand's upcoming pair of SUVs, as well as its new modular aluminum platform that will underpin its next generation of cars. The teaser picture accompanying the press release doesn't give a huge amount away in terms of aesthetics, but familiar Jag elements such as the fender haunches and F-Type-style rear lamps suggest this will be instantly recognizable as a Jaguar. Its emphasis will be more on road performance than off-road ability in order to ensure it drives as a Jaguar should and also to avoid stepping on the toes of sister company, Land Rover.

2014 Porsche Panamera V6 Diesel Facelift gets more power

The 2014 Porsche Panamera V6 Diesel Facelift (pictured) gets more power When Porsche revealed the facelift for the Panamera in April, we commented that we could expect a new V6 diesel to arrive in the Panamera for 2014 with around 300bhp. And here it is. The new Porsche Panamera V6 diesel gets the same tweaks to bumpers and lights as the rest of the range – and modest though they are, they do make the Panamera look a little less bulbous – but the most appealing news is a bit more oomph from Porsche’s entry-level diesel Panamera.

Porsche Panamera Diesel gets power boost for 2014

An updated Porsche Panamera Diesel was missing from the range when Porsche facelifted its plus-size super-saloon earlier in 2013. But don’t think Porsche had quietly dropped the most anti-purist model in its line-up. Stuttgart has in fact been tickling up a much more powerful, faster version of the oil-burning Panamera.

James May does Isle of Man TT run in electric Motor Bike made from Meccano

James May & Oz Clark in their electric Meccano Motor Bike & Sidecar in the Isle of Man With Top Gear on a break, Messrs Clarkson, May and Hammond have the chance to go out and do their own projects. And one of those is James May’s Toy Stories. And it seems James May has been out on the Isle of Man filming for a Christmas Special for his Toy Stories series, together with long-standing sidekick on other projects, Oz Clarke.

Toyota Hydrogen Fuel Cell breakthrough to be announced at Frankfurt Motor Show

Toyota Hydrogen Fuel Cell breakthrough to be announced at Frankfurt Motor Show Regardless of whether you think the electric car is potentially a planet saviour or not, the idea of powering cars with hydrogen is a powerful one; the holy grail of automotive powertrains. Technically, ICE cars can be built to run using hydrogen (and a retro-fit allowing that to be achieved economically would be a huge breakthrough) but car makers are heading down the road of electric cars being powered by a hydrogen fuel cell at the moment. In Toyota’s case, that means a setup similar to their hybrid cars, with a hydrogen fuel cell replacing the petrol engine.

Jaguar SUV/Crossover – Jaguar C-X17 Concept teased for Frankfurt

The Jaguar C-X17 Concept (pictured) teased for Frankfurt We’ve been pretty sure for some time that a Jaguar SUV Concept (or, really, a Jaguar Crossover Concept) will arrive at the Frankfurt Motor Show this month. And so it is. The Jaguar C-X17 Concept is being teased today, and it’s clear this is Jaguar’s new, small Crossover aiming to take a much bigger slice of the world’s premium market than anything else currently in the Jaguar range.

Jaguar crossover concept (2013) the first teaser shot

What looks like a screen grab from Sin City is in fact our first official glimpse of the new Jaguar crossover. The jacked-up, coupe-like CX-17 is one of two new models on the way from Gaydon, the other being the ‘X760’-codenamed 3-series rivalling sports saloon. Argh, not another teaser picture… We don’t like them any more than you do, but in this case we’ll allow the Jaguar through the net.

2014 Mercedes S65 AMG spied undisguised (video)

The 2014 Mercedes S65 AMG (Pictured) spied on video ahead of an LA debut We’ve already had the new Mercedes S-Class revealed and its everyday performance version – the new Mercedes S63 AMG – has been unveiled too. But there’s one more S-Class to come – the 2014 Mercedes S65 AMG. We’re expecting the S65 AMG to arrive at the Los Angeles Auto Show later in 2013, but it looks like Mercedes are readying some promotional videos for their new range-topping powerplant in the S65, with a completely undisguised car caught on video.

2014 BMW X5 M50d: Specs, photos and price ahead of November on sale

The 2014 BMW X5 M50d (pictured) goes on sale November 2013 The new BMW X5 goes on sale in November – after a public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month – including the most powerful diesel X5, the 2014 BMW X5 M50d. Because the M50d is a bit special, BMW has seen fit to relay not just a pile of new photos of the M50d (above) but specific details on its spec and options ahead of the on sale date in Europe. Just as in the first X50d, the new X50d gets the world’s most powerful in-line 6-cylinder diesel engine under the bonnet, which means a thumping 376bhp and a planet turning 546lb/ft of torque, enough to sprint to 62mph in a very un-diesel like 5.3 seconds.

Range Rover Hybrid on the Silk Trail

A trio of Range Rover Hybrid s (pictured) on the Silk Trail The new Range Rover Hybrid (and the Range Rover Sport Hybrid too) are heading for a reveal at the Frankfurt Motor Show in a week or so, but they’re not quite ready for showrooms yet. Land Rover are still busy doing the final shakedown of the hybrid powerplant and have decided the best way is a high profile jaunt from Land Rover in Solihull to Mumbai in India following the ancient Silk Trail route to test the robustness of their new hybrid. So they garnered a trio of Range Rover hybrids – and support vehicles – enlisted a team consisting of Land Rover development engineers and motoring media from 10 countries, and set off from Solihull on 22nd August on the almost 10,000 mile expedition.

First Sight: Volvo Concept Coupé

It's clear talking to the team responsible for the Volvo Concept Coupé this isn't just 'another concept car'; it's a manifesto for where the sole remaining Scandinavian car brand is heading. It marks a new dawn for the company by introducing a new platform, range of engines and design language devised by Thomas Ingenlath. Car Design News traveled to Volvo's design studio in Gothenburg to see the car and speak to the team behind it ahead of its official unveiling in Frankfurt.