Honda to Build Fit Hatch, Sedan and Crossover Models at New Mexican Plant

It’s no secret that Honda plans to introduce the new generation of the Fit (sold as the Jazz in Europe) sub-compact next year and by 2015, two more variants based on the same underpinnings, including a small sedan and a crossover model, which we believe to be based on the Urban SUV Concept that was announced earlier today in advance of its Detroit Motor Show debut.

Mazda to Build a Toyota-Branded Sub-Compact Based on the Mazda2 in Mexico for North America

Toyota is preparing a new sub-compact model for the U.S., Canada and Mexico that will be based on the Mazda2, with manufacturing to take place at Mazda’s plant in Mexico. The factory is currently under construction and is scheduled to become operational within the fiscal year ending March 2014.
The two companies made the announcement today stating that the as-of-yet, unnamed model will begin production around the summer of 2015 at a pace of 50,000 units per year and will be sold through Toyota dealerships in North America.

Mercedes and Renault-Nissan to Develop New 4-Cylinder Turbo Engine, Share Auto Transmission

On the sidelines of the ongoing 2012 Paris Auto Show, partners Daimler, owner of the Mercedes-Benz and Smart brands, and the Renault-Nissan Alliance, confirmed plans to collaborate on two more powertrain projects, including a petrol engine and an automatic transmission.
The first project is a jointly developed 4-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine family. The direct-injection petrol unit is said to deliver significant improvement in fuel economy as well as low emissions.
The two automakers will jointly manufacture the new engines that will debut in Daimler, Renault and Nissan vehicles in 2016.

The Vochol VW Art Car Covered in 2000 Beads

The Volkswagen Beetle with its long association with Mexico, has been used in a unique project initiated by the Museo de Arte Popular (MAP), and turned into a colorful art car represented with the art of the indigenous Huichol. “Vochol” (from the slang word for the car – Vocho – and the word “Huichol”) was created by two indigenous families over a period of seven months.

This VW art car is covered with over 2 million beads on the body, dashboard, and steering wheel and is intended to highlight the art of the region. The designs on the vw art car were created by master craftsman Francisco Bautista, that depict traditional imagery. Serpents resting on clouds on the front of the art car, sun and four eagles on the roof, and a shaman in a boat on the trunk.

The Vochol will be on display at the MAP in Mexico City and will go on tour in Europe and America, and finally, it will be put up for auction that will hopefully go for about half a million pesos. The proceeds will go to the Association of Friends of the Museo de Arte Popular (AAMAP).

Wrought Iron VW - Heavy Metal Bugs Hit the Road

via kodac
Joe Gomez of San Antonio, Texas, relates that "One day when I was in bed, I dreamt that I was building a wrought iron car. I woke up, ran to the kitchen and got some paper, and started sketching. My wife thought I was crazy.Everything on this car is handmade, nothing is factory. It took me a little bit better than nine months. The reason I chose the Volkswagen is because the motor's in back -otherwise I'd have all the fumes in front." The car brought more customers to Gomez's wrought-iron company than he could handle, and he soon retired. He later found out that two other people have made wrought-iron Volkswagen's! And here are some more of them


Photo and links below by iamthemaintrain

1. Metal Beetle, 2. ROT IRON, 3. vw iron work, 4. wedding car, 5. RotIron1, 6. Joe Gomez - wrought iron VW bug, 7. Air Conditioned Bug, 8. CIMG0027, 9. Rod Iron VW, 10. IMG_3719, 11. ROT IRON, 12. Wrot Iron VW Bug, 13. IMG_3717, 14. www.flickr.com/photos/udpride/2294504563/, 15. Day 203: No blind spots on this car...., 16. IMG_3764