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Actually, Honda is doing more than simply aiming high. They are aiming for the stratosphere — literally, sort of, because the 3R-C concept looks like something out of the Jetsons. It belongs either in space or in the future — or, hell, maybe both, who knows?

I get that there is a market — sort of — for vehicles like this. By the way, “this” is not just electric, it is battery powered and aims towards personal transportation. It is in line with the FCX Clarity, the EV-N, and the U3-X electric personal mobility contraption.

It is going to debut next month in Geneva. But I ask you, will it ever make it to production? And even if it does, would anyone really want to be seen in it?

Ford – oh Ford, let’s have a little talk about you huh?  Let’s chat about how you have changed a lot of things that you are doing and how you are actually becoming one the lead competitors in the way of technology.  We all know that car technology is certainly the wave of the future and I think that Ford is leading the way.

By far, the MyFord Touch is definitely something that seems to be working.  It is actually a system that is built right into the wheel as well as the console and honestly, it is pretty awesome.  Not only can you control your stereo, but there are a slew of other things that you can control via MyFord Touch!

Ford is the cutting edge right now and while I might find that weird … it is still the truth and I need to accept that!

Auto aficionados no doubt kept up with all the big reveals at this year’s NAIAS. Many of you are likely just aware of one of the largest surprise reveals there this time: GMC’s Granite concept. The design is meant to produce a smaller sort of truck and crossover, creating a hatchback with a compact build. The target audience? Urban hipsters, baby, along with brave early adopters.

The concept was conceived in California, the brainchild of the Advanced Design Team belonging to Frank Saucedo. However, the hatchback was built in Detroit at the GM Design Center.

The aesthetic behind the Granite puts together the basic, simple proportions found in the Nissan Cube as well as the Scion xB, with a rather industrial feeling that gets its inspiration from, of all things, two major fashion lines: Diesel and G-Star.

Hyundai has been responsible for some pretty cute little vehicles. The renderings of this one — a concept known as the ix-Metro — were just recently made available not to long ago, and the actual concept got its unveiling at the IAA that took place in Frankfurt.

Namyang, Korea’s Global Design Team has created a whole series of new concept cars, of which this is the fifth. It is designed as a showcase vehicle for the “Blue Drive” eco initiative Hyundai is pushing.

The ix-Metro is a CUV — a sub-B segment hybrid electric one, to be exact. Hyundai promises that the concept will give out CO2 emissions that are only eighty grams per kilometer. The vehicle uses an petrol engine, an inline three cylinder, that displaces a mere liter.

Ford is actually imploring some real skills here and they are using real humans in a video game simulator so that they can build better cars and trucks.  The technology that has already been used in films and also in some fantastic video games is now making its way into the automotive industry and it seems that Ford is the first automaker to actually use it.

Basically, HOPS is the name of it and that stands for Human Occupant Package Simulator.  In real life – this basically means that there are human test subjects that are using this particular simulator in order to produce better quality cars and trucks.

Ford – to me is really taking the next step and I personally think that is absolutely incredible.

When you think about it — it does not seem all that long ago that we were reporting on the Porsche Panamera and how it is available for pre-order.  Now … it has been on sale for about three months and already, the company is booming and the Porsche Panamera’s are flying off of the lot!  So far, Porsche has cranked out about ten thousand of the Porsche Panamera’s. 

That — to me is one car that is by far the best on the market.  Not only does it look absolutely breathtakingly beautiful but I can tell you for a fact that the way that the Porsche Panamera drives is the reason that so many people are attracted to it and really want it.

I mean, to be perfectly frank, not only is it a hot, hot car but the brand name Porsche is something of a status and I think that, that is exactly what people are after right now!

The Nissan Qazana concept proved to be one of the brightest stars of the 2009 auto show in Geneva.

NDE, or Nissan’s European Design Center, created the stunner. Specifically, we have Matt Weaver, the lead designer, and Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan Design Europe’s Vice President, to thank.

It is not really clear, however, whether the Qazana will ever actually make it into production. Albaisa has been noted as saying that the concept was created solely to appear at the motor show in Geneva, but goes on to say that the concept should not be passed off. He says that it is also meant to show the direction Nissan might take for small cars in the future.

Of course, giving the Qazana’s success at the show, Nissan might be changing their minds in a hurry.

I have to tell you, I think the Honda City is pretty hot. This is the third generation of the City, and it is already being sold in Thailand. The mechanics of the Honda City are based around those of the Fit hatchback. Previous versions of this vehicle were a bit tall, and the proportions were rather awkward at back. As you can see, with the third generation, the proportions are much, much better.

You may see hints of the Airwave and the Civic in the treatment of the front.

Inside, the dashboard is different from the City’s inspirations, the center console is more squared shaped, and the car is powered by a 118 horsepower, 1.5 liter i-VTEC engine.

Vroom, vroom, space cadets. You are clapping eyes on the Lexus LFA, which was presented at this year’s 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. I can only imagine that it made at least a few waves, because come on. That is one hot, hot Lexus. Besides that, it is worth four years worth of effort, not to mention two other show cars.

No surprise, it is classified as a supercar with a brand new, front mid engine. Its skin? Carbon fiber reinforced plastic, otherwise known as CFRP. That makes the car strong and incredibly lightweight, and also allowed the designers and engineers behind it to have a lot of freedom when it came to creating curves, edges, and other shapes.

Inside the car, there are three zones separating the interior, which is focused on the driver and hand built. There is a human zone, a driving zone, and a mechanical zone.

For those of you that have ever, ever used Google’s street view, it is pretty cool huh?  Personally, I have used it just too really look and see how clean a neighborhood is and also how the traffic is, however Microsoft is not a fan of it and they are actually coming up with something pretty cool.

Microsoft is in the works of creating more like a navigation system that you can actually drive along.  To me, that is something that is actually pretty damn cool.  I think that while Google’s street view was sweet, if Microsoft could come up with something better, I am definitely excited.

So if you have every used the street view and have complaints – don’t worry, Microsoft is going to take care of you!