Tanner Foust shreds at Ken Block Invitational Gymkhana Grid

When the smoke cleared this weekend at the inaugural Ken Block Invitational Gymkhana Grid event at Toyota’s Irwindale Speedway, Tanner Foust had claimed the top spot. The head-to-head event, which had drivers like Foust, Vaughn Gittin Jr., Andrew Comrie-Picard and host Ken Block cording brand-new tires in a matter of minutes, pitted powertrains (AWD or RWD) in the same brackets to keep things interesting. After several rounds of eliminations, it came down to just Foust and Block for the final – both drivers in similar 550 horsepower AWD Ford Fiestas. In the best-of-three sprints, Block ran nearly flawlessly, but Foust demonstrated inhuman levels of car control (720-degree spins just inches from a barrel) to take the first two races and the resulting overall win.

On a related side note: Earlier in the evening, Michael Essa, driving GSR Autosport’s 350R (a BMW V10-powered 3 Series), topped Vaughn Gittin to take the win at the Discount Tire burn-out contest. While other drivers spent their three minutes doing spins around the course, Essa simply cranked his steering wheel to the left and bounced off the rev-limiter (in third gear) until he disappeared into a thick gray cloud – liquidating his Nitto tires in 90 seconds of carnage.

Hit the jump to watch the complete battle between Block and Foust.

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Gallery Autos In America Part.2

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New Lancia Stratos continues slow striptease

We’ve already seen the new Lancia Stratos from various angles, just never enough of them at one go. Finally, we’ve got a complete picture of the retro racer made new. Knowing there’s a 483-horsepower engine from aFerrari F430 underneath all that carbon fiber bodywork, and a shortened chassis, the remaining mysteries concern the interior and how the Stratos performs.

So now that we’ve come to the bittersweet end of the striptease, someone cue up the video and let’s see her shimmy. In the meantime, have a fuller gander at the Lancia Stratos in the gallery of high-res photos below.We’ve already seen the new Lancia Stratos from various angles, just never enough of them at one go. Finally, we’ve got a complete picture of the retro racer made new. Knowing there’s a 483-horsepower engine from aFerrari F430 underneath all that carbon fiber bodywork, and a shortened chassis, the remaining mysteries concern the interior and how the Stratos performs.

So now that we’ve come to the bittersweet end of the striptease, someone cue up the video and let’s see her shimmy. In the meantime, have a fuller gander at the Lancia Stratos in the gallery of high-res photos below.

Lancia confuses us with Diva Collection Ypsilon and Musa

Ever get the feeling that Italian cars – short of top-flight supercars, anyway – are more about style than they are about substance? If you haven’t, then have a look at the latest from Lancia. Called the Diva Collection, a series of special touches have been applied to both the Ypsilon and the Musa, two of the smallest cars in Lancia’s range… or any other, for that matter.

So what’s special about the Diva Collection models? Beats us. Fiat’s quirky step-sister only released information in Italian, but even that doesn’t get into much detail. Instead it speaks mostly of the advertising campaign in which they’ll be featured, referencing something about “man brushes”. (We don’t really want to know.)

Both models can be had with an array of absurdly low-output engines (nothing even in triple digits), but feature commensurately low list prices, and there also seems to be some extra chrome, so they’ve got that going for them. That, plus their appearing on Italian television. Chrysler badges, anyone?

Toyota gets its sport hybrid on with Prius Plus Performance Package

Looks like Honda isn’t the only automaker trying to cash in on the idea of a “sport hybrid.” Toyota has just debuted its new line of Plus performance parts at this year’s SEMA show, and the first vehicle to benefit from these new accessories is the Prius hybrid.

The Prius Plus Performance Package (say that three times fast) includes a seven-piece aero kit that still allows the sleek hatch to maintain its 0.25 coefficient of drag. The new front and rear bumper spoilers, side skirts and rear diffuser are rounded off with an attractive set of 17-inch forged wheels wrapped in slick 215/45-series tires.

In an effort to keep things as economical as possible, the Prius’ hybrid engine does not receive any upgrades, but the hatch’s suspension has been tweaked to provide better overall handling. Sport-tuned lowering springs have been fitted and a rear sway bar has been put in place to keep things flat and stable during cornering.

Toyota will be offering the Plus Performance Package in limited quantities beginning in April of next year. Follow the jump for the official details and see the modded-up Prius for yourself in the galleries below.

Toyota brings some swagger to Sin City

Seven million. That’s how many times Toyota’s much-loved Swagger Wagon rap video has been viewed on YouTube. 

Well, actually, it’s 7,154,749… but who’s counting? With that in mind, it’s not surprising that the Japanese automaker has chosen to outfit its official SEMA floorspace with a customized Sienna dubbed, appropriately enough, Swagger Wagon Supreme.

Actor Brian Huskey, otherwise known as Swagger Dad, was on hand to introduce the stretched and lowered metallic blue Sienna minivan. 

He started his speech from inside the Wagon, which is decked out with a nicely finished wood floor along with plenty of cabinetry, televisions and computer paraphernalia. See it for yourself in our high-res image gallery below.

Toyota Prius C&A Custom is the new definition of all show, no go

Can a Prius be sporty? Toyota’s latest offering here at SEMA proves to us that it can certainly try to look the part. The Prius C&A Custom Concept wears an aggressive, lightweight carbon fiber body kit and rides on 18-inch forged aluminum wheels. What’s more, the C&A has been substantially lowered thanks to a TIEN setup that drops the hatch’s ride height by four inches in front and six inches out back. The result is a Prius that has been transformed from a do-good hybrid into what looks like the anime version of a Lamborghini Reventón.

The upgrades have continued inside the Prius, where the cabin has been covered (and we mean covered) in Alcantara suede. The headliner, A and B pillars, door trim, rear seat, console box, front Recaro seats, steering wheel and even the aluminum shift knob all wear Alcantara.

This Prius certainly echoes the SEMA theme, as odd as it may be. See for yourself in our high-res gallery below, and read Toyota’s own words about the C&A Custom in the press release after the jump.

2011 Toyota Prius is EPA fuel economy leader for one more year

The United States Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy have released the latest Fuel Economy Guide, listing the most fuel-efficient vehicles available in the States. Once again, the Toyota Priustops this chart, besting the competition with its EPA ratings of 51/48 miles per gallon city/highway.

Beyond the Prius, the list of fuel economy leaders is rounded out with the usual cast of characters, including the Ford Fusion Hybrid (as well as its Milan and MKZ counterparts), Honda Civic Hybrid, Lexus HS 250h and more. You won’t find Volkswagen’s oil-burning Golf TDI or Jetta TDI on the list, though, even though their 30/42 mpg is immensely respectable.

As for newcomer EVs like the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and Smart Fortwo Electric Drive, the EPA states that “no 2011 model year electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have completed testing as of publication of this list.” Once the EPA decides how it is going to rate electric vehicle fuel economy, we’ll see these vehicles included in the list of fuel economy leaders, and the Toyota Prius will likely lose its first place crown.

2010 Toyota RAV4 EV Concept

Toyota RAV4 EV Concept released at LA Auto Show. Good performance its which added a major powertrain option, along with minor feature and cosmetic changes. The demonstration vehicle weighs approximately 220 pounds more than the current RAV4 V6 yet it will accelerate from zero to sixty nearly as quickly.

The Toyota is currently testing is powered by a lithium metal oxide battery with useable output rated in the mid-30 kwh range. However, many decisions regarding both the product, as well as the business model, have not been finalized. Battery size and final output ratings, as well as pricing and volume projections of the vehicle Toyota plans to bring to market in 2012, have not been decided.

The Toyota RAV4 EV received several distinct exterior styling changes including a new front bumper, grille, fog lamps and head lamps. New EV badging and the custom “mutually exclusive” paint color, completed the transformation. The interior received custom seat trim, multimedia dash displays, push-button shifter and dashboard meters. The RAV4 platform brings a 73-cubic-foot cargo area with rear seats folded down – no cargo space was lost in the conversion to an electric powertrain.

Toyota’s comprehensive technology strategy is a portfolio approach that includes a long-term commitment to hydrogen fuel cells, plug-in hybrids and battery electrics all driven by the further proliferation of conventional gas-electric hybrids, like Prius, as its core technology.

Toyota has announced that coinciding with the arrival of the Toyota RAV4 EV in 2012 it will launch, in key global markets, the Prius PHV (plug-in hybrid) and a small EV commuter vehicle. It will also launch, in key global markets, its first commercialized hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in calendar year 2015, or sooner.