By Kurt Gensheimer

Here’s the straight poop on what’s happening at the Los Angeles Auto Show…

2010 Mazda MAZDA3

Since its release nearly five years ago, the MAZDA3 has become a global best-seller due to its incredible balance of sportiness, practicality, fuel efficiency and affordability. In fact, one in every three cars Mazda sells worldwide is a MAZDA3. With the 2010 MAZDA3, Mazda yet again expects to raise the standard of what “economy” cars can deliver with more refined ride quality, a more luxurious-yet-sporty interior, attractive exterior styling resembling the RX-8, improved luggage space and new safety features. In addition, the MAZDA3 will offer new features like dual zone climate control, 8-way power seats, push button start and Bluetooth phone and audio; items not normally optioned in an economy car. The 2010 MAZDA3 will carry over the first-gen 2.0L four-cylinder, but will offer a new 2.5L with the company’s innovative new Start Stop technology that should put out between 175-185 horsepower and deliver up to 33 mpg.

Click the link for video of the new 2010 MAZDA3 sedan

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Paris Motor Show news from Porsche. All of the major auto manufacturers are working hard to squeeze better fuel economy out of their line-up. Porsche may be a luxury brand, but their customers are also conscious of the steep gas prices and our dependency upon foreign oil. Now you can have your cake and use less fuel according to Porsche. I’ll have to dig further and find out how much of an improvement the new generation of engines, all with DFI, have moved up in fuel economy. The official press release (with photos) is below the jump, but doesn’t mention any numbers with regards to how much the reworked engines have improved.

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Review and photos by Derek Mau

Settling for second place has never been Porsche’s mind set. Porsche has a long list of podium finishes on and off of the racing circuit. In 1948 Porsche scored a first place finish at Innsbruck Stadtrennen with the 356, the first sports car to bear the Porsche name, only one month after it was road certified. Fast forward to 1984 for another notable first - Porsche, with the 911 Carrera 4×4, marks its first victory in the Paris–Dakar Rally. At Porsche safety is just as important as winning races. Porsche becomes the first car maker in Germany to equip all production models with an airbag for driver and front passenger as standard equipment. Now it seems that Porsche has taken the gold again in the form of a limited edition GT Silver Metallic Boxster, the RS 60 Spyder.

I was given the opportunity to test drive the RS 60 Spyder at the home of Porsche’s Sport Driving School (PSDS), Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. In my opinion, the race track is the best place to put the RS 60 through its paces without scaring the natives on public roads. As an added bonus, I had legendary racer and lead PSDS instructor, Hurley Haywood, show me the race line at Barber Motorsports Park.

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Porsche has released some additional photos of the special edition Boxster RS 60 Spyder in conjunction with the car’s German debut at the Auto Mobil International show in Leipzig. The Boxster RS 60 Spyder is a tribute to the Porsche that won Sebring 48 years ago. A total of 1,960 will be produced, each one fitted with slightly modified fascias, PASM, a wheel/tire upgrade, and a sport exhaust that bumps output to 298 HP (303 PS). Additionally, the cars are finished in the same silver-over-red combo as their forbear, with a numbered plaque adorning the dash. Following is the official press release from Porsche. Click on the thumbnail images to view them full size. Read the rest of this entry �