Ever since the new Nissan GT-R made its return, it’s been considered the pinnacle of supercar performance. It nails everything from acceleration, to braking, to cornering to the overall way it makes a driver feel. Our friends at AutoCar decided to pin the new 540-hp 2013 Nissan GT-R (known as the 2012 model year in the UK) against the new 560-hp 2012 BMW M5 to find out if the new M5 can hold up to the hardcore Godzilla.

Check out their take after the jump.

Refresher:

• BMW M5: The 2012 BMW M5 is powered by a 4.4L V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo (consisting of Twin Scroll Twin Turbo Technology) making 560-hp between 6,000 and 7,000 rpm with a maximum torque of 502 lb-ft from 1,500 rpm. Mated to a 7-speed M Double Clutch Transmission Drivelogic (with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters), the 2012 BMW M5 goes from 0 to 62 mph in 4.4 seconds, 0 to 124 mph in 13 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph or 190 mph with M Driver’s Package.
• Nissan GT-R: The 2013 Nissan GT-R being the most powerful, is powered by a 3.8-liter twin turbo V6 engine making 545-hp, an increase of 15-hp over the 2012 GT-R, and torque has been increased from 448 lb-ft to 463 lb-ft. 0 to 62 mph for the 2013 GT-R has been reported to come in at 2.84 seconds.

- By: Omar Rana

Our friends at Drive recently had the chance to get behind the new Toyota GT 86 sports coupe. Lead man Chris Harris gives us his take on the new rear-wheel-drive coupe from the Japanese automaker in the 30 minutes he had with the car on the track.

Check out the video after the jump.

Click here for our original post on the 2013 Scion FR-S.

Refresher: Power for the Scion FR-S / Toyota GT 86 comes from a 2.0 liter naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder horizontally opposed engine with Toyota’s D-4S injection system. The engine makes 200-hp at 7,000 rpm with a maximum torque of 151 lb-ft at 6,600 rpm. Its mated to a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. Sales of the 2013 Scion FR-S will start in the spring of 2012.

- By: Omar Rana

While putting together the commercial for the new 2013 Scion FR-S in Northern California, Scion Racing’s Ken Gushi, official stunt driver for the shoot, had a very close encounter with a deer on some mountain roads.

Fortunately, Ken and the deer were unharmed during the making of the commercial.

Click here for our original post on the 2013 Scion FR-S.

Check out the footage after the jump.

Refresher: Power for the Scion FR-S comes from a 2.0 liter naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder horizontally opposed engine with Toyota’s D-4S injection system. The engine makes 200-hp at 7,000 rpm with a maximum torque of 151 lb-ft at 6,600 rpm. Its mated to a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. Sales of the 2013 Scion FR-S will start in the spring of 2012.

- By: Omar Rana

Besides the New York Giants taking home the championship hardware, Eli Manning proving that he is in the league of elite quarterbacks, Bradshaw making a touchdown he wish he hadn’t and Madonna’s horrible halftime performance – Super Bowl XLVI was filled with some very interesting commercials, especially car commercials.

Now that you’ve seen all of them – it’s time to vote for your favorite one. I’ll kick it off by pointing out my personal favorite – Acura’s Transactions ad featuring Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno.

You can check out each commercial after the jump and cast your vote in the poll below.

Acura – Transactions:

Audi – Vampire Party:

Cadillac ATS – Green Hell:

Chevrolet – Happy Grad:

Chevrolet Silverado – 2012:

Chevrolet Sonic – Stunt Anthem:

OK Go – Needing/Getting – Official Video:

Chevrolet Volt – Aliens:

Chrysler – It’s Halftime in America:

Fiat 500 Abarth – Seduction:

2012 Honda CR-V – Matthew’s Day Off:

Hyundai Genesis Coupe – Think Fast:

Hyundai Veloster Turbo – Cheetah:

Hyundai – All for One:

2012 Kia Optima – A Dream Car. For Real Life:

2013 Lexus GS – The Beast:

Suzuki Kizashi – Sled:

Toyota Camry – Reinvented:

Volkswagen Beetle – The Bark Side:

- By: Omar Rana

Right before the second half of Super Bowl XLVI kicked off, Chrysler Group LLC aired its much anticipated commercial.

Titles ‘It’s Halftime in America,’ the ad featured none other than Clint Eastwood talking about the hard time the United States is going through.

“It’s halftime in America, too,” Eastwood said in the commercial. “People are out of work and they’re hurting. And they’re all wondering what they’re going to do to make a comeback. And we’re all scared, because this isn’t a game.”

The commercial ends with a boost of confidence for Americans and Chrysler Group with Eastwood saying: “This country can’t be knocked out with one punch. We get right back up again and when we do the world is going to hear the roar of our engines. Yeah, it’s halftime America. And, our second half is about to begin.”

Check out the commercial after the jump

- By: Omar Rana

Earlier this week, Acura dropped its full commercial for Super Bowl XLVI which features Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno attempting to convince the first buyer of the upcoming Acura NSX to hand them over his keys.

Check out original post on the Acura NSX.

Acura has now released another commercial, for the web only, where Seinfeld continues his attempts.

“In his ongoing attempts to acquire the very first Acura NSX, Jerry Seinfeld offers to trade the last living Munchkin to the one person in front of him on the waiting list,” Acura said about the commercial.

Check it out after the jump.

- By: Omar Rana

BMW of North America today unveiled six digital shorts, which are a part of a new national advertising campaign to support the launch of the new 2012 BMW 3-Series, which will go on sale Feb. 11.

Two of the shorts will air in ads during Super Bowl XLVI in regions across the U.S.: the first entitled ‘The Big Grab,’ in the New York Tri-State area; and the second, ‘The Close Call,’ in the Southern California-Los Angeles, Atlanta and Houston areas.

“The BMW 3 Series is the global benchmark for a sports sedan,” said Dan Creed, Vice President of Marketing, BMW of North America. “With these shorts, we turn a spotlight on the innovations that make the 3 Series the standard to which others aspire.”

Click here for more news on the BMW 3-Series.

Follow the break for the commercials.

Refresher: The 2012 BMW 3 Series three trim levels including Sport Line, Luxury Line and Modern Line – of course, an M Sport Package will follow. The 2012 BMW 328i is powered by a 2.0 liter TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder engine making 240-hp at 5,000 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque between 1,250 and 4,800 rpm. That allows 0 to 60 mph to come in just 5.7 seconds with a top speed of 130 mph (155 mph with Sport Line package). Power for the 2012 BMW 335i comes from the same N55 3.0 liter 6-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine making 300-hp at 5,800 rpm with a maximum torque of 300 lb-ft between 1,200 rpm and 5,000 rpm. 0 to 60 mph comes in 5.4 seconds with a top speed of 130 mph (and 155 mph with Sport Line package).

- By: Omar Rana

General Motors has released yet another commercial for Super Bowl XLVI called ’2012.’ The commercial is based around the Chevrolet Silverado and shows off how reliable the truck is in a 60-second.

The ad is focused around the Silverado navigating the devastation and destruction predicted to occur this year by the Mayan calendar.

Check out more news on the Chevrolet Silverado.

“A group of friends, who are Silverado owners, makes its way to the designated meeting spot but notice one of their buddies is missing, GM said about the ad in a statement. “The missing friend, unfortunately, drives another manufacturer’s truck and doesn’t appear to have made it to the meeting point.”

The ad also features a shot at the Ford F-150 but we won’t spoil it for you.

Make the jump to see the ad.

- By: Omar Rana

The autonomous technology is now being implemented in the BMW 5 Series ConnectedDrive with an improved version of the 330i tester. Using a system of cameras, radar, and laser scanners, the car brakes, accelerates, passes vehicles, and abides by traffic laws while simultaneously analyzing traffic conditions.

Our main challenge was to develop algorithms that can handle entirely new situations. In principle, the system works on all freeways that we have mapped out beforehand with [a] centimeter accuracy,” said Nico Kaempchen, project manager of Highly Automated Driving. at BMW Group Research and Technology.

The i3 will be the first BMW that comes with the option of a “traffic-jam” feature, which, at low speeds, will steer, speed up and slow down on its own.

Follow the jump for the video.

By: Alexandra Koken

At the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz will be unveiling the new 2013 A-Class hatchback. A video footage of the car was caught and uploaded on YouTube while it was undergoing a photo shoot in the Canary Islands.

Check out more news on the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

Mercedes-Benz has made no comment on the video but as you can see, the car seems pretty close the concept version that was shown at the 2011 New York Auto Show.

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class will go on sale later this year in Europe and will come to the stateside early next year.

Stay tuned for more info.

Hit the jump for the video.

- By: Omar Rana

Kia has released its ad spot for Super Bowl XLVI that will be shown during the big game on Sunday.

The commercial, titled ‘Drive the Dream’ the 2012 Kia Optima limited races through a Gen X couple’s wildest thoughts as they sleep – included in the dream is Victoria’s Secret Angel Adriana Lima waving the checkered flag at a speedway; an in-your-face Motley Crue concert; mixed martial arts legend Chuck Liddell battling in the ring; a heroine and hunk on horseback in a romance novel setting; champion bull rider Judd Leffew taming a bucking rhinoceros; and a fairy tale ending. Perfect.

Check out more news on the Kia Optima.

“With more than 100 million people watching the Super Bowl broadcast and millions more viewing content online around the world, Kia will once again deliver a memorable, one-of-a-kind campaign that entertains people before, during and after the game and leaves them wanting to see the Optima Limited fantasy again and again,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. “We selected an eclectic group of celebrities and personalities for ‘Drive the Dream’ to enable us to tap into a diverse body of fan bases and leverage each talent’s expansive social media footprint.”

Check out the commercial after the jump along with 5 hours of Adriana Lima.

- By: Omar Rana

General Motors has just released its Super Bowl XLVI commercial for the Chevrolet Volt for the big game on Sunday.

Titled ‘Aliens’, the 30-second spot shows the curiosity about the Volt and its electric powertrain extends to extraterrestrial beings from galaxies far, far away.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

Refresher: The 2012 Chevrolet Volt is powered by 16-kWh, ‘T’-shaped lithium-ion battery that powers the electric drive unit, which allows it to drive 40 miles on battery power alone. The system puts out 149-hp and a maximum torque of 273 lb-ft, allowing the Volt to go from 0-60 mph in about 9 seconds, hitting a top speed of 100 mph. The battery can be re-charged by plugging into a household outlet and takes 4 hours to recharge on 240 volts, and about 10-12 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet. The Chevrolet Volt also carries an 84-hp 1.4 4-clyinder engine that allows the five-door, FWD sedan to travel additional miles while averaging a fuel-economy of 50 mpg. A fully charged battery and full tank of gas will allow the Volt to travel 379   miles. The 2012 Chevrolet Volt gets an EPA estimated 93 miles per ’gallon-equivalent’ when driving under electric power only, 37 mpg when in gasoline mode and over the long term it is estimated to get 60 miles per gallon in combined gasoline-powered and electric-powered driving. Prices for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt start at $39,995 but with a full federal income tax credit (which range from $0 to $7,500), the Volt can cost a total of $32,495.

- By: Omar Rana

Volkswagen today released its Super Bowl XLVI commercial on YouTube titled ‘The Dog Strikes Back.’ The commercial online is an extended 75-second, while the one that will air during the big game will be 60-seconds.

This is the third consecutive year that V-dub has advertised on Super Bowl Sunday.

“This is a perfect opportunity for Volkswagen to celebrate with the fans that have made 2011 such a record-setting year for the company,” said Tim Mahoney, Chief Product and Marketing Officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “This year’s commercial will build on Volkswagen’s ability to tell human stories simply while continuing to build on the brand’s momentum in the year ahead.”

The commercial features a story of a cute dog named Bolt who realizes he is out of shape. He continues to exercise and loose weight and then all of the sudden the scene cuts to a bar in the world of Star Wars.

- By: Omar Rana

Cars.com has released there Super Bowl commercial for 2012 that will air during the big game on February 5. The commercial takes you inside the dealership where a knowledgeable car shopper and user of Cars.com is talking to a dealers.

However is ‘inner confidence’ takes over from his shoulder persuading him to be a not-so-knowledgable car shopper.

“Baby I want that car!”

Make the jump to see the commercial.

- By: Omar Rana

Two days ago we told you about two Chevrolet Sonic Super Bowl XLVI commercials that will air during the big game. General Motors has now released two videos – one teasing a commercial with a band named OK Go and the other being the full commercial showing all the stunts GM has pulled with the Sonic.

Check out more news on the Chevrolet Sonic.

Note: While we’ve seen the Chevrolet Sonic go skydiving before – we’ve never really seen it pull its shoot – well, that’s about to change.

Hit the jump for the videos.

Refresher: The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is available in a sedan and hatchback variant. The standard engine on the 2012 Sonic is a 1.8L DOHC inline 4-cylinder unit making 135-hp and 125 lb-ft of torque, while an optional 138-hp 1.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder is also available. Prices start at $14,495 for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LS Sedan($15,395 for the Chevrolet Sonic LS Hatchback), which is powered by a 1.8L Ecotec making 128-hp. Prices top out at $17,295 for the LTZ Sedan and $17,995 for the LTZ Hatchback. Prices start at $14,495.

- By: Omar Rana

The Nissan Juke-R may be a joke to many, but the car deserves its performance credits thanks to its 3.8 liter twin-turbo V6 from the Nissan GT-R along with the drivetrain, suspension and transmission. It produces a whopping 485-hp and can apparently go head-to-head with a Lamborghini Gallardo, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and a Ferrari 458 Italia.

Check out more news on the Nissan Juke-R.

While it is street legal, sadly, the Nissan Juke-R is not a production car and only two versions were built (a right-hand drive and a left-hand drive).

Either way, check out a the official video by Nissan after the jump.

- By: Omar Rana

Following a teaser released mid-January, Lexus has released its ‘The Beast’ commercial prior to its Super Bowl XLVI debut – it is also Lexus’ first-ever Super Bowl commercial.

The commercial shows the 2013 Lexus GS breaking free from being contained and shows how Lexus will be taking its vehicles towards a new direction.

Click here for more news on the Lexus GS.

“The all-new Lexus GS is showcased in this ad because it’s the first model to feature the new look of Lexus and it’s also the first of nine new or updated models we’ll launch this year,” said Brian Smith, Lexus vice president of marketing. “This spot looks very different than anything Lexus has done before and demonstrates to the 50-million-strong Super Bowl audience that 2012 will be a breakthrough year for Lexus.”

Hit the jump for the video.

Refresher: Power for the 2013 Lexus GS 350 comes from a 3.5 liter V6 engine making 306-hp at 6,400 rpm and a maximum torque of 277 lb-ft at 4,800 rpm. The engine is mated to a 6-speed sequential-shift transmission allowing it to go from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds with a top speed of 142 mph. 30 to 50 mph takes just 3 seconds. The Lexus GS also comes with the Lexus Drive Mode selector allowing for four driving modes including ECO, Normal, Sport S and available Sport S+. Prices start at $46,900.

- By: Omar Rana

It seems like automakers will be eating up most of the commercial breaks during Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5th. Acura will be jumping in on the game for the first time to capitalize on more than 100 million viewers.

The campaign is designed to strengthen Acura brand awareness and leverage the brand’s announcement in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show earlier this month, a 60-second commercial featuring the iconic talent of Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno coupled with the highly anticipated NSX supercar concept will air during the third quarter.

Check out original post on the Acura NSX.

“Acura has a specific plan in place across all communication channels to build off of the first round of product news announced at the North American International Auto Show. The response to the ILX, RDX and NSX supercar concept has been extremely positive,” said Susie Rossick, Acura Brand Manager. “Our Super Bowl strategies are simple—build upon the buzz created in Detroit and leverage the excitement for the future return of the legendary NSX to the Acura lineup.”

Check out more news on the Acura NSX.

The commercial is titled ‘Transactions’ and features Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno, in a bid to be the first in line to take delivery on the first NSX.

Production of the Acura NSX will take place in 3 years in Ohio. Over the next year Acura will also introduce the new RDX and ILX compact sedan.

Follow the jump for the commercial.

- By: Omar Rana