We are always seeing technology from Formula 1 making its way to our road cars and McLaren could about to be doing it again with rumors of a McLaren hybrid supercar, which could use the controversial KERS system.

On the McLaren website they have recently put up a job posting, they are looking for a Senior Engineer for Powertrain Hybrid Technology. This certainly offers us a few ideas as to where the company is heading with its future road cars.

Autocar asked McLaren for more details on the job listing, but a spokesman would not confirm if this form of hybrid technology would be used on one of its road cars. We know that the KERS system has not been popular in F1, but it is agreed that McLaren’s system is the best in the field and having it in a road car would certainly be a great idea. BMW and Ferrari are also thought to be bringing its KERS system to its road cars, not that they have had a great track record with their systems.

We last mentioned the Suzuki SX4 when we learned of a Suzuki SX4t, which came with a Mitsubishi 16G, GT3 turbocharger. Well the small car is in the news again, as Suzuki is to offer a “Free Gas for Summer” promotion, much the same as the Hyundai promotion.

Autoblog informs us that all Suzuki SX4s from now until August 31, 2009 can enjoy this promotion. Like all promotions, you need to read the small print; the buyer gets a pre-paid credit card with $270 on it for the SX4 Sedan and $290 for the SX4 Crossover.

Let us hope that you like driving, because that is a lot of miles you will have to cover to use all that free gas up. If you thought that this offer was good, then you will like the other offer that Suzuki have announced, and that is $2,000 off the price you would pay for a SX4 with manual transmission.

Volkswagen share a different opinion to the major carmakers in the U.S., Chrysler, Ford and general Motors do not believe that there is market for mainstream diesel vehicles, but VW do not believe that this is correct. The German automaker launched its Jetta Sportwagen last fall and sales last month were up 81 percent of those were the diesel variant.

1,982 2.0-liter TDI four-cylinder VW Jetta Sportwagen were sold last month alone, showing that the American market are now showing more of an interest in the diesel market. VW managed to shift 8,431 Jetta sedans, and 40 percent of those were diesel powered too.

The Touareg SUV saw a decline in its sales; this is a picture that we are now seeing across the U.S. with SUVs. Sales of the Touareg fell by 41 percent in June, shifting just 330 units. Autoblog tell us that the new VW Golf arrives in September, and that the TDI version should also do very well.

We reported in October 2008 that BMW were working on its latest concept, the BMW X1. Now we learn that the BMW X1 will arrive in the U.S. in 2011, Autoblog have a number of images for us to look over, which you can see here.

The new soft-roader is to be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this year, but BMW thought they would give you a chance to see it before then. BMW have also issued a statement; along with the release date the German automaker confirmed that the X1 would offer both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive.

There is to be a choice of one gasoline engine and three diesel powertrains when it his Europe in the fall. There are no details, which powertrains will be offered to the U.S. market, but no doubt, BMW will keep us informed.

T3 Motion who gave us the T3 Series Electric Stand-up Vehicle, have issued a press release stating that they are to offer a new vehicle. The T3 Motion CT3 is a three-wheeled electric vehicle and is classed as a personal commuter / EV.

The use of a three-wheeled design allows the T3 Motion to be classified as a motorcycle in a number of states; this means that the T3 might not be restricted to low-sped use. Autogreenblog are telling us that the vehicle will be capped at 45mph.

All three wheels of the T3 Motion will be powered by electric motors; the power comes from the vehicles Power Management System and lithium polymer batteries. The new vehicle is only in rendered form at present, but certainly looks stunning.

The T3 Motion CT3 has zero emission and uses regenerative braking to keep power supplied to its lithium polymer batteries. Ride quality is impressive thanks to its rigid lightweight aluminum frame. T3 are also thinking of offering a GT version, this model will reach speeds of over 80mph and still offer over 100 miles per gallon.

The future of vehilces is tjose that will run on hydrogen, much like the FCX Clarity fuel-cell car.

Porsche has to be doing something wrong, they are one automaker that is profitable and have a huge stake in Volkswagen. The most puzzling thing is, cash is in short supply for the German company and have approached Germany’s state bank for a loan of maker’s 1.75 billion euro ($2.45 billion USD), but the request has been denied.

Autoblog says that Porsche are now looking for alternative ways of finding the cash, but what could that be. Automotive News who is the original source of the story has said that Porsche has been looking outside of Europe to try to steam its increasing debts.

VW has seen that Porsche is like a wounded animal and have given them an ultimatum, VW have offered 3-4 billion euro ($4.2-$5.6B) for a 49% stake in Porsche, this will be in exchange for not forcing the repayment of a 700 million euro loan ($983M) which is due in September. As you would expect, the sportscar maker has turned the offer down.

Could this be the next big automaker filing for bankruptcy just as GM and Chrysler have in the U.S.?

When it comes to the MMI (Multi-Media Interface) from Audi, there is no better system, as it is user friendly; the amazing thing is this system has now got even better. Autoblog have the full press release from Audi, where they state that the resolution on the new 6.5-inch screen has been increased to 800 x 480.

This is not the only new upgrade, the new 600 MHz processor allows for faster route calculation, ideal if you are in a hurry. You can now scroll along the route vertically and horizontally, there will also be speed limit data on highways.

This new system will be incorporated into new Audi models of the A3, TT, and R8 first. The upgrade will happen in the U.S. by the autumn; as yet there are no pricing details. We almost forget to mention one of the coolest features from the new MMI upgrade, and that is the optical parking assistant, which is to be combined with the rearview camera in the R8.

Audi it seems is working very hard not only on feature upgrades, the automaker is also working on developing the groundwork for a new way of building its cars for the future.

Making its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed later this week it the 2010 Jaguar XKR Goodwood Special, which is the fastest Jaguar ever. This car is very special and managed to reach a top speed of 225.675mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

The Jaguar XKR Prototype is to be driven by Paul Gentilozzi from Rocketsports Racing; he was also the man who was behind the wheel at Bonneville. There will also be a one-off Jaguar XKR, driven by Jaguar’s Chief Engineer of Vehicle Integrity, Mike Cross.

Autoblog informs us that other legendary Jags appearing at the Goodwood Festival of Speed include the Long Nose D-TYPE, which won Le Mans in 1257. The Jaguar C-TYPE will also make an appearance; this two has had a Le Mans victory. Other models include the Jaguar XJ13 and the Bonneville XFR.

The latest model from Jaguar is the 2010 Jaguar XJ as has certainly getting some media interest.

There is no denying that one of the most popular convertible small sports cars is the Mazda MX-5, but this is often too expensive. Mazda understand that people’s budgets are much tighter now but they have a solution, the MX-2.

Auto Express has a cool looking illustration to show us what they think the new Mazda MX-2 will look like. The Furai concept will feature heavily in the design as well as headlamps direct from a Ferrari California.

The new MX-2 will have a smaller engine; these engines will range from 0.7 to 1.6-litres, with a 1.6-litre turbo version pumping out 160hp. The new car will be much lighter, so a larger engine is not needed.

There are rumors that the new Mazda MX-2 will be on the streets by 2012, so it will not be long before we see some concept models driving around.

Mazda are looking at other ways to help its customers save money and think of the enviornment at the same time, which is why they are looking in to a 2.0-liter clean diesel engine.

We first spoke about the MDI AIRPod back in October 2008, now after eight months, Green Car Advisor Nick Kurczewski was able to take the environmentally friendly vehicle out for a test drive. This small vehicle follows in the footsteps of MDI’s AirCar, if you like speed, then the AIRPod is not for you.

Edmunds Inside Line explains that the MDI AIRPod uses compressed air to power its small 180cc engine. The engine produces just 5.4 horsepower, but MDI are already working on an upgraded GT model, which should push out 8HP.

Kurczewski comments that the AIRPod with its bubble design is not the best car to be driving around in the hot weather, as there are no openable windows. There are plans for the AIRPod to be used in airports and universities. For a full test-drive review of MDI AIRPod, head over to Inside Line.

There have been more rumors that General Motors will get access to Toyota’s proprietary hybrid technology, Bloomberg have now cited two sources, Akio Toyoda, Toyota’s President and Fritz Henderson, GM’s chief are to meet in August to discuss the possibility of the sharing of this technology.

Bloomberg states that both GM and Toyota have strongly denied that these talks have taken place in the past and that they will never do so in the future. The rumor said that the Prius would be built at the United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated (NUMMI), but we reported this morning that GM has cut its ties with Toyota.

Toyota could decide to take over the plant fully, so that they can build the Prius in America, if that is the case, we will still not see any involvement from General Motors. The reason for this is that GM is fully involved in its Chevrolet Volt, which they hope will be available by 2011.

The UK is no stranger to the Ford Fiesta, however the small car has not had a huge showing in the U.S. that is until now. Hundreds of agents throughout the United States have taken delivery of the Ford Fiesta Sedan, in the hope of making it a popular choice for the U.S. consumer.

The most unusual news has to be the 2011 Ford Fiesta Sedan model, which you can see in these spy shots here. This model is already available in China, but the U.S. version of the car will have a few differences, in order to comply with its regulations.

Those differences will likely be revised fascias to the front and rear; the hatchback will also come in either three or five-door configurations. It is certainly nice to see that Americans are now starting to move away from huge gas guzzling cars, and thinking more about the environment.

Ford is also moving on with its electric car program, we recently reported that the automaker received $5.9 billion to help them build two new electric cars.

Toyota has announced that the Scion iQ will be launched to the American market; with a U.S release date by 2011 the latest. AutoBlog’s source, Motor Trend assumes that the small car will cost the same as the Yaris.

The Scion iQ will receive a number of modifications for the American market, such as recalibrated airbags and slightly extended bumpers. The Big Wheels Body Kit that was on show at the New York Auto Show will not be a standard feature in the U.S.

Motor Trend is not certain which engines will be used to power the small vehicle, but it should be between 1.0- and 1.4-liters. For those who are hoping on a hybrid version, then you will be disappointed, as Toyota has no plans due to cost and packaging considerations.

There is nothing better than looking at some sexy photos of a Lamborghini supercar, and the latest offering is the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder. These images do prove one thing, that the supercar is still not dead.

The Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder was first seen at the L.A. Auto Show, this new model now comes with a host of upgrades, all with one thing in mind, more speed. There is now a new folding roof, there are also LED taillights, and then that all important engine, a 5.2-liter V10, pushing out 552HP.

Lamborghini’s were never the best supercars in the world, but the new Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder is showing that they have upped their game. For a huge range of images of this sexy looking car, click here.

If you are the owner of a Lamborghini, then what better gadget to have in your supercar than a Lamborghini VX5 laptop from Asus.

General Motors has finally cut ties with Toyota on Monday; the two companies had been running an auto plant in northern California for 25 years. This move now means that there is an uncertain future for the plant, which employs more than 5,000 workers.

According to Reuters, this plant was once a groundbreaking experiment as it bought together the Japanese efficiency to the U.S. workforce. GM, who is now running under government bankruptcy protection since the beginning of June, said that they were not able to reach an agreement with Toyota over production plans for the plant.

Both GM and Toyota have been joint partners on this joint venture since 1984, the common name for the venture was NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing Inc). General Motors built the Pontiac Vibe and Toyota built the Corolla sedan and the Tacoma compact pickup truck.

Read the full article over at Reuters

The most popular Corvette on the road has to be the ZR1 and the Grand Sport models, but there is still another model that is doing well, the Corvette Z06. This certainly a great car and has received an upgrade for its 2010 model. The new model will come with an engine that can produce 505hp, and this performance gain will not hit the pocket hard, just an increase of $360, the 2010 Corvette Z06: will cost just $75,235.

MotorAuthority has decided to write an extensive review of the new vehicle, giving us the full specs of the car and what their opinion is of it. The Z06 like most other performance cars now comes with a launch control system, this makes certain that you get the best pull away possible.

The 2010 Corvette Z06 will come with a top-end 3LZ package, this comes with powered sports seats to the front, and a Cashmere interior that has the Corvette logo embroided on. The new car has a choice of eight colors, this includes the ever popular Arctic White and Crystal Red Metallic, there is also a new Torch Red color.

We need to talk a bit more about that engine, the LS7 7.0L V8. As we mention above it produces 505hp and can go from 0-60 in 3.7 seconds, and has a top speed of 198mph.

For a full review of the 2010 Corvette Z06, visit MotorAuthority

Akio Toyoda, the new president of the Toyota Motor Corp. has gave a starke warning to the auto industry, saying that it faces another two tough years. Toyoda also explained how he was planning to return Toyota’s bad fortunes in to profit once again.

According to Reuters, Toyota is planning to make its operations in North America more autonomous, they will also focus on marketing a region-specific vehicle line-up, instead of a full line up for a region, which they are doing at the moment.

Most of Toyota’s factories like so many other carmakers are underused; this is a direct result of the global recession. This has already had an effect on Chrysler and General Motors, as they have both filed for chapter 11-bankruptcy protection.

Toyota are now facing their second year of losses, and the Japanese car giant are looking at a number of ways to cut costs, they hope to become more profitable while using just 70 percent of its factories.

As many of you gamers and car fans will know the long awaited release of Gran Turismo 5 is soon to be upon us, Citroen have already started building up the hype by releasing there own concept supercar which is called The GTbyCITROËN which also adds some extra hope to the gamers that Gran Turismo 5 will be released later this year.

The reason for the release of The GTbyCITROËN is because of the partnership that Citroen have with Polyphony. the car is 4.96 meters long and is little over a meter high, it has nice looking wide sporty air intakes, rear air-diffuser, stylish LED headlamps, gull wing doors, 21 inch aluminum wheels with a diamond effect, black leather interior and top quality racing controls.

The GTbyCITROËN will makes it first appearance in the UK at the Goodwood Festival Of Speed on the 3rd to the 5th of July so head over there is you want to get a good look at the car before you experience the gaming feel of the car.

For the full report head over to gamezine.co.uk

Leave your views in the comments below.

The world’s largest automaker, Toyota Motor Co. is planning to launch a new fuel-cell car by 2015; they hope that by pushing this hydrogen vehicle they will stay ahead of the game when it comes to a more greener vehicle, one such vehicle is the FCX Clarity fuel-cell car

Shareholders have been asking a number of questions about Toyota’s outlook on zero-emissions technology, so hopefully this will do a great deal to ease their worries. Fuel-cell technology is considered the ultimate solution when it comes to reducing carbon dioxide emissions that cars produce

The technology is remarkable as it will be able to produce electricity by combining hydrogen with oxygen, and all that you get from the tailpipe is water. Toyota have already looked into this technology back in 2002, but since then have concentrated on more affordable technology, such as the current Prius hybrids.

More details on this here

According to AutoBlog, Japanese Magazine, Best Car states that Lexus is working on a new performance version of its luxury LS460 sedan. The mag reports that the car will not carry the ‘F’ designation, which certainly seems a strange choice to make, as its other performance car, the IS F does.

The performance version of the LS460 will carry an SZ suffix. AutoBlog have no idea as to what these letters stand for, but no doubt, we will all be having a guess by now. This new model features a full body kit, which comes with a new grille finished in black chrome. There will also be an upgraded Brembo braking kit, which hides behind a set of BBS alloy wheels.

Details are still sketchy on what engine will be used, but we can be certain that it will offer more performance than the standard model. It is thought that the new Lexus LS460 SZ will sell for $94,425 (JDM), but no details as to when it will hit the market.