Acura is introducing its ILX small sedan and the redesigned 2013 RDX crossover.
GMC will unveil the next-generation Acadia SUV.

Hyundai will show a coupe version of its popular Elantra. And the Korean auto maker is retiring the Touring name for the wagon version of the Elantra, replacing it with the redesigned i30 that is sold in Europe. In the US, the dreaded wagon name is dropped for five-door hatchback.

Kia is showing off its Track'ster coupe concept. The jazzed up version of its Soul was designed by its California design team.

Nissan will unveil its NV200, which is a five-passenger compact van that will be used in taxi - notably in New York City - as well as commercial and retail passenger applications.

Toyota is debuting its redesigned SUV Land Cruiser with restyled front grille and headlights, new side mirrors and taillights, and chrome side molding.

Volkswagen will unveil a diesel version of the 2013 Beetle. It is scheduled to go on sale in August.

The resolution also requests tolls on the Mount Hope Bridge.

The board included a provision that if the state provided "an alternative and sufficient source of revenue," the new toll rates would not take effect.

That provision referred to a plan by Governor Chafee that could allow for the Bridge Authority to also take responsibility of the Jamestown Bridge and the Sakonnet River Bridge from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation.

Unlike the RIDOT, the Bridge Authority has the authority to charge tolls.

Because of capacity constraints at its Alabama plant, Hyundai will be fortunate to match the industry's expected 8 percent gain to 13.8 million units, Krafcik told a J.D. Power International Automotive Roundtable.

That would put Hyundai's U.S. sales at around 700,000 units this year.

For all 2012 light-duty vehicles (cars, pickup trucks, minivans, vans and SUVs) offered for sale, the average is 21.5 miles per gallon, compared to 18.9 mpg for model year 2008 vehicles.

The averages were 21.2 for 2011, 20.7 for 2010 and 19 for 2009.

Lenders resisted extending credit to car buyers when the mortgage market collapsed in 2008. That sent U.S. sales to the lowest point in almost three decades and helped push General Motors and Chrysler into bankruptcy.

U.S. light-vehicle sales rose 10 percent to 12.8 million last year and that momentum continued as automakers sold cars and trucks in January at the fastest pace since August 2009, according to Autodata Corp.

There are more than 250 vehicles on display, according to offiicals with Motor Trend Auto Shows which is producing the show. They include a number of exotics as well as mainstream and very fuel efficient vehicles on display.

Exotics include Porsches, a 10-cylinder Audi R8 convertible, a Corvette ZR1, a Ford Mustang GT500 and a bunch of Chevy Camaros.

There are also a bunch of cars that get about 40 miles to the gallon on the highway, many of them gasoline powered in addtion to hybrid electric-gas and electric plug-ins.

New or redesigned cars include the Acura TL, Buick Verano, Chevrolet Sonic, Dodge Charger, FIAT 500, Ford Focus, Subaru Impreza and Toyota Camry.

Pre-production 2013 cars include the Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Escape, which features a lift gate that is activated by passing a foot under the license plate, Ford Fusion Hybrid and Ford Shelby Mustang GT500.

Check out Motor Trend Auto Shows' free iPhone App that which can be used to buy tickets, view participating manufacturers and get vehicle information at a glance
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Yelp.com, a social media site that collates local reviews of what's hot and what's not, will be attending over the weekend, giving out freebies as visitors post opinions and tips about the show.

There will also be a demonstration of Sony's Digital Link Sound System, which enhances a factory-installed stereo system to premium audio quality.

Other attractions include Bob Tasca III's 8,000 horsepower Motorcraft / Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang Nitro Funny Car.

And Sunday is Kids' Day, with appearances by Captain American and Spider-Man. Children 12 and under will be admitted free.

Remaining hours are Friday, 12 noon to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is $9 for adults, $6 for senior citizens (62 and older), $5 for students (with ID), and $4 for children ages 7-12. Children six 6 and younger are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.providenceautoshow.com for a $2 discount off regular adult admission.

The Rhode Island Convention Center is at One Sabin Street, Providence.

For more information, go to:www.providenceautoshow.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NEAutoShow
Twitter: @NEAutoShow

Noting that diesel engines deliver as much as a 40 percent boost in fuel economy and with corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards rising to 35.5 miles per gallon by the 2016 model year, the industry news magazine asks whether U.S. prices should be adjusted in diesel's favor.

"If there ever were a moment when the North American industry could benefit from a switch to different engine architectures to claim quick and easy fuel-economy improvements, it would be now," the industry newspaper said.

Eight brands win awards across 18 categories; Honda and Ford tie for most wins; Acura, Buick, Subaru and Toyota have two wins each.

The awards include the Honda CR-V for Affordable Compact SUV, the Toyota Sequoia for Affordable Full-Size SUV, the Ford Taurus for Full-Size Car, the Buick Enclave for Midsize SUV with Three Rows and the Honda Odyssey for Minivan.

Automakers sold 913,284 light vehicles last month, up from 819,886.

The seasonally adjusted annual sales rate for January hit 14.2 million -- far above estimates and the highest rate since August 2009, when the government's cash for clunkers program drove demand.

The ad turns out to be showing in the iconic Star Wars bar and when a patron states the dog was better than last year's boy in a Darth Vadar costume, he is quickly reminded who's boss.

A Honda ad features Matthew Broderick / Ferris Bueller playing hooky with his CRV - at one point seen on TV singing along in a Chinatown festival while his boss is explaining his illness to a client. And a Suzuki ad features an Inuit who trades his sled for a Kizashi - to his wife's evident displeasure when he gets back to the igloo.

I have just written about headlights, so enjoyed an Audi ad which features young vampires partying in the forest and waiting for the drinks - aka blood - to arrive. They turn up in an Audi, but its LED headlights create daylight ...

Chevrolet ran a competition - Chevroletroute66.com - for film makers worldwide to submit videos. One ad stars a student who mistakenly thinks his parents have given him a Camaro convertible as a graduation present. His wild celebrating comes to a quick end when the actual owner drives away and the present turns out to be a dormroom fridge.

Another stars a fixated young girl on a date in a Camaro. Her date is a slob - boots on the dashboard, spilling food - with roaming hands. Turns out the scene is a nightmare her father is having. He gets out of bed to check on his daughter but it seems he was equally worried about his car.

Jerry Seinfeld has a leading role in an ad for the Acura NSX. He wants the first one but is 20th in line so goes about trying to bribe No.1 for his position, with offers including soup from the infamous Soup Nazi. Finally, his "personal network of Manhattan zip lines" gets him the ticket - until Jay Leno lands in a "jetpack flying squirrel suit" and No. 1 away "New York to LA in 20 minutes."

A Honda ad features Matthew Broderick / Ferris Bueller playing hooky with his CRV, a Chevrolet ad features a student who mistakenly thinks he got a Camaro convertible as a graduation present, and a Suzuki ad features an Inuit who trades his sled for a Kizashi.

The analysts see overall sales rising to 13.6 million vehicles this year from 12.8 million in 2011.

But GM may fall to 19 percent of the U.S. market, from 19.6 percent last year; Ford may drop to 16.3 percent from 16.8 percent and Chrysler may decline to 10.5 percent from 10.7 percent

The rule is part of the Advanced Clean Car regulations designed to cut vehicle greenhouse gas and smog-forming emissions.

The regulations could mean 1.4 million electric, fuel cell and plug-in hybrid vehicles on California roads by 2025.

The crash was set up by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) complete with crash test dummies, to demonstrate how safety technology has improved over the last 50 years.

Although the Bel Air is a bigger and heavier car, it is demolished by the impact. The IIHS states the driver would have died instantly.

The driver of the Malibu, on the other hand, would have suffered a "slight knee injury." The car is severely damaged but the passenger cabin is protected as is the driver, notably by the airbag.

Thanks to John Murphy for bringing this video to my attention.

The latest addition is two cars at Rhode Island College at the Student Union, Lot K.

Zipcar names all its cars. The duo at RIC are Flick, a Ford Focus 5-door, and Franchesca, a Ford Focus sedan. Member rates are $7 an hour and $66 for the day.