Lancia Beta Berlina S1 Lower Fr. Moulding 12a/5290 on 2040-parts.com

Nissan Versa hatchback previewed by Japan-market Note

The Nissan Versa hatchback will be redesigned, with styling similar to that of the new Note subcompact that the automaker revealed in Japan on Monday. Nissan said the Note will go on sale in Japan this fall and in Europe in 2013. The carmaker did not say when the Versa hatchback will go on sale, but the car is expected to reach showrooms early in 2013.

Renault Pitches Affordable Self-Driving Technology

RENAULT is the latest company to dip its toe into the waters of self-driving car technology. Pitching its contribution as a way of combating tiredness and stress plus allowing drivers to multitask and let the car take the strain, the French firm is looking to 2020 as the year when its bold vision could become a reality. There is a catch though, as Renault’s vision of an autonomous driving future centres around the provision of ‘protected’ roads devoid of pedestrians or other hazards to make the reality of hands off driving possible.

Hennessey Cadillac Escalade gets 557 hp

The 2015 Cadillac Escalade is about as American as an SUV can be. We didn't find the 420-hp, 6.2-liter V8 lacking in any way, but if you want something with a little more grunt, Hennessey Performance Engineering and its HPE550 upgrade should help. Hennessey says the HPE550 Escalade package bumps output to 557 hp and 542 lb-ft of torque with the help of a belt-driven supercharger producing 6 psi.