Cadillac ELR

General Motors debuted the Cadillac Converj concept, the car that would eventually become the 2014 Cadillac ELR, in January, 2009 at the North American International Auto Show. The Cadillac ELR is a luxury plug-in hybrid compact coupé developed and manufactured by General Motors. The ELR powertrain is a re-tuned version of the propulsion system used in the Chevrolet Volt. The ELR's 16.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack delivers an all-electric range of 37 miles (60 km) and a top speed of 106 mph (171 km/h). The ELR is built upon the GM Delta II platform and incorporates a version of the Voltec propulsion system used in the Chevrolet Volt. The Voltec propulsion system includes a 119-135 kilowatt electric motor, a four-cylinderengine-generator and a 16.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The ELR has an official all-electric range of 37 miles (60 km) and a total range of 340 mi (550 km), as rated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).Charging times are 12.5–18 hours using the 120-volt travel charger, and about 5 hours using a 240-volt charging station. Top speed is 106 mph (171 km/h) and accelerates from 0-60 mph in 7.8 seconds in range extended mode. In 2013, the ELR was awarded "Best Production Vehicle" in the Eyes on Design Awards.

Infiniti Q80

At the Paris Motor Show next week ,  Infiniti will unveil the Q80 Inspiration concept, a fastback sedan larger than any of its current production cars. The preview release suggests it will be an even greater tech powerhouse than the impressive Q50 Hybrid. The concept measures 198.9 inches long, making it a couple of inches longer than Infiniti's Q70 model. It's 122.2-inch wheelbase is a whole 8 inches longer than that of the Q70, hinting at a good amount of interior space. However, Infiniti describes the Q80 Inspiration as a four-seater.With a V6 it would get an adequate 360 horsepower, but Infiniti likely has something more powerful in mind. The Q80 Inspiration suggests that Infiniti may finally come up with a big, flagship sedan that would compete with the Mercedes-Benz S-class and Lexus LS.  In a description of the Q80 Inspiration released today, Infiniti says the car will feature “an advanced adaptive suspension” with a light chassis that “combines with the acoustic glass all around and additional sound deadening to promise a driving and ride experience among the very best.” “Infiniti is eager to show the upper range of our portfolio expansion,” Alfonso Albaisa, Infiniti executive design director, said in a statement. “We wanted to capture that unforgettable feeling when you experience something important, something beautiful, something magnetic for the first time.”

Winter Getaways

Orlando, FL. Theme Park Heaven
 people around the world book theme park vacations a year or more in advance: While admission to the parks ain't cheap—often topping $80 per day for adults—you can get a break on airfare and hotel reservations by booking early. Orlando, Fla., is the epicenter for park sharks—it's home to Universal Studios Florida, Sea World Orlando, and Walt Disney World. 

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIF. Surfin' Safari 

You're under no obligation to actually catch a wave just because you visit Laguna Beach, an iconic seven-mile stretch of sea and sand in Southern California's Orange County—most visitors are content to swim and soak up the warmth of the sun. But if you're so inclined, lessons with a champion surfer come with a money-back guarantee that you'll "get up"—surf slang for standing on the board on your first lesson (lagunabeachsurfinglessons.com, group lessons from $75 per person). If you can bring yourself to towel off and put your shoes back on, good vibrations can also be found in nearby Laguna Village, a prime spot for browsing quality art galleries and other shops—a reminder of the town's roots as an artists' colony. 

TULUM, MEXICO South of the Border 

Tulum invites you to do as much, or as little, as you like. On Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, the seaside community is home to pristine Caribbean beaches famous for their giant sea turtles and the site of pre-Columbian Mayan ruins, including temples and castillos dating back to the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries. Admission to the cliff-hugging ruins is only about $5. 

PUERTO RICO ,Caribbean Dream 

Where can you prowl the winding streets of an old-world-style city, explore a rain forest, and pay an eerie nighttime visit to a bay that glows in the dark, all without leaving the United States? Only Puerto Rico offers historic Old San Juan, the teeming, colorful El Yunque Rain Forest, and the hauntingly beautiful La Parguera bioluminescent bay. Oh, and there's also the world-class beaches if you insist on doing nothing much at all. 

OAHU, HI Pacific Paradise

 In the dead of winter, the classic image of Oahu's hotel-lined Waikiki Beach can either haunt your dreams or, if you book now, be yours to savor in person. The Waikiki neighborhood of Honolulu stretches from the Ala Wai Canal to Diamond Head, a volcanic cone misnamed by 19th-century explorers who believed the rocky cone held diamonds. Take a stroll on Beach Walk, where you'll find gift shops and art galleries (including a ukulele shop) and casual dining options that include traditional Hawaiian dishes and live music. 

BOZEMAN, MONT. Rocky Mountain Skiing

For those who'd prefer not to escape winter but rather to plunge deeper into it, Montana throws its arms open wide. The minute you step off the plane in Bozeman, the cold, pine-scented air will remind you that you're not in Wherever You Came From anymore. Powder hounds swear by Bridger Bowl ski lodge, in the nearby Bridger Mountain range (part of the Rocky Mountains). The lodge offers ski lift/lodging packages with local hotels starting at $139/person for two days of skiing and one night's lodging. If you decide to mix your powder with a spoonful of learning, drop by the Museum of the Rockies, at Montana State University, to delve into Montana's Native American and pioneer history and to see some of the world's finest dinosaur fossils.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.Southwestern Sun

A winter sojourn to the Southwest doesn't have to mean just golf courses and exhibition baseball. Albuquerque presents an eclectic dance card to visitors: The Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is a hotspot for hot-air balloon enthusiasts—and also for those content to just watch those gentle giants take flight. The Pueblo Cultural Center presents one of the world's most impressive collections of Southwestern Native American art, including changing exhibits by contemporary artists. If, after soaking up New Mexico's distinctive desert landscape, you want to find out more about how the land took the shape it did, head to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.

COSTA RICA Tropical Fun

This Central American nation's reputation for all-around beauty, adventure, and affordability is well deserved. Start with the markets, museums, and nightlife of capital city San Jose, then head to Arenal—the kind of rumbling, lava-spewing volcano you may have thought existed only in movies. And if an active volcano isn't enough to get your adrenaline flowing, dive into Manuel Antonio national park to cavort with monkeys, or just go take a hike—no, we really mean take a hike—in the cloud forests near Monteverde and Santa Elena along the continental divide.

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, ITALY Italian Skiing

This stunning region of Italy's Dolomite Mountains—featuring peaks over 9,000 feet above sea level—was the site of the 1956 Winter Olympics and has always attracted a swanky European crowd, including movie stars and royals. But strict zoning has kept the area true to its surprisingly Teutonic roots, and you'll see white-timber houses that look as if they were transplanted out of a fairy tale. The popular Cortina d'Ampezzo ski resort offers a seven-day Dolomiti Superski pass, which gives you access to all the area's slopes for about $40 a day, and booking your trip now can nab you reasonable airfare and hotel rates for this tony enclave.

SMUGGLER'S NOTCH, VT. Northeast Skiing

With incredible ski destinations in the American west and the mountain ranges of Europe, it's easy for easterners to forget that there are some awesome slopes under their noses. For one-stop shopping, Smugglers' Notch, in Vermont's Green Mountains, is convenient, affordable, and regularly ranks among the top favorites of ski enthusiasts. Here, a little more than an hour's flight from New York City, you'll find weeklong packages that include a mountainside condo, lift tickets, snow tubing, and a family entertainment and recreation center.

NHA TRANG, VIETNAM The Perfect Beach

Yeah, the airfare to Vietnam from the U.S.'s West Coast is not cheap, averaging between $900 and $1,300 round-trip, but once you get there, food and lodging can be quite reasonable. The beaches of Nha Trang, on the country's south central coast, are a major wintertime draw, and many visitors are more than happy to skip major cities like Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Hanoi in favor of this laid-back beach town. Besides superb surf, scuba, and sunbathing, Nha Trang offers a number of temples dating as far back as the 9th century and Vietnam's signature cuisine, which blends French Colonial influence with traditional Southeast Asian claypot and noodle dishes.

Jaguar XK

The XK8 was launched in 1996 to replace the XJ-S. Two body styles were produced - a coupé and a convertible. The car was the first in the Jaguar line-up to use Jaguar's newly developed V8 engine - the AJ-V8. In 1998 the supercharged XKR was added to the range. However, both the XK8 and XKR are limited to a maximum top speed of 155.4 mph (250.1 km/h). The series was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show on 5 March 1996, and the last car came off the production line on 23 July 2014. The second generation XK was launched in 2006 (as a model year 2007). The new XK introduced an aluminium monocoque bodyshell, and is available both as a two-door coupé and two-door cabriolet/convertible, with just the engine and associated mechanicals being carried forward. The standard XK model has an unlimited top speed of 158 mph whilst the XKR an unlimited top speed of 174 mph. An even faster variant, the XKR-S model was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 2012. The XKR-S gained an additional 40 horsepower over the XKR bringing the 0-60 mph time down to only 4.4 seconds and the top speed up to 300 km/h (186 mph) - making it the fastest Jaguar yet after the Jaguar XJ220. A convertible version of the XKR-S was released in 2012. Production of the XK ceased in July 2014 without a replacement model.

Smart Car

Smart Automobile is a division of Daimler AG that manufactures and markets the Smart Fortwo. Headquartered in Böblingen, Germany, Smart has marketed

a range of vehicles and has its primary assembly plant in Hambach, France. Annette Winkler has served as Smart's CEO since 2010. The design concept for Smart's automobiles began in the late 1980s, associated with Swatch. After a period of backing by Volkswagen, the first model was finally launched byDaimler-Benz in October 1998. Several variants on the original design have been introduced, with the original design, called the Fortwo, now in its second generation and available as an electric version. One of the first controversies at MCC was the name of the car itself. Nicolas Hayek insisted it retain Swatch in some way: "Swatchmobile", or "Swatch Car". Daimler-Benz refused, and pushed for a neutral name. The final selection was Smart, an acronym that had been previously used internally by MCC for Swatch Mercedes Art. The car launched successfully in nine European countries in October 1998, but the final design did not fulfill Hayek's expectations. Hayek pushed for a hybrid drivetrain but the final product used a relatively conventional gasoline engine. The model line was subsequently expanded to include the Roadster a rear-engine, rear-drive and four-door, four-seat supermini aptly named Forfour (the original City-Coupé was renamed Fortwo to fit the new naming scheme). In 2005, Daimler decided against purchasing a 50% share in the Dutch NedCar plant used to manufacture the ForFour, ending its production. A planned SUV called Formore was terminated as the assembly plant in Brazil was being fitted with machines, and production of the Roadster was discontinued. In 2006, after dwindling sales and heavy financial losses, Smart GmbH was liquidated and its operations were absorbed by DaimlerChrysler directly. Smart now operates under the Mercedes-Benz Cars division of Daimler AG, offering solely the Fortwo Coupe and Cabrio models. Smart vehicles use a very small front crumple zone. The new Smart Fortwo has been awarded 4 out of 5 stars in the Euro NCAP Adult Occupant Protection and 2 out of 4 stars in the Pedestrian protection test, but was not tested for Child Occupant Protection as it has no rear seats. The original Smart was awarded 3 out of 5 stars for Adult Occupant Protection.

Nascar

   Nascar The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sporting events. It was founded by Bill France, Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2014, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of Bill France, Sr. NASCAR is the largest sanctioning body of stock car racing in the United States. In the 1920s and 1930s, Daytona Beach became known as the place to set world land speed records, supplanting France and Belgium as the preferred location for land speed records, with eight consecutive world records set between 1927 and 1935. After a historic race between Ransom Olds and Alexander Winton in 1903, the beach became a mecca for racing enthusiasts and 15 records were set on what became the Daytona Beach road course between 1905 and 1935. By  1936, Daytona Beach had become synonymous with fast cars. Stock car racing in the United States has its origins in bootlegging during Prohibition, when drivers ran bootleg whiskey made primarily in the Appalachian region of the United States. Bootleggers needed to distribute their illicit products, and they typically used small, fast vehicles to better evade the police. Many of the drivers would modify their cars for speed and handling, as well as increased cargo capacity, and some of them came to love the fast-paced driving down twisty mountain roads. The cars continued to improve, and by the late 1940s, races featuring these cars were being run for pride and profit. These races were popular entertainment in the rural Southern United States, and they are most closely associated with the Wilkes County region of North Carolina. Most races in those days were of modified cars. Street vehicles were lightened and reinforced. NASCAR is second only to the National Football League among professional sports franchises in terms of television ratings in the United States. Internationally, NASCAR races are broadcast in over 150 countries. In 2004 NASCAR's Director of Security stated that NASCAR holds 17 of the top 20 regularly attended single-day sporting events in the world.Fortune 500 companies sponsor NASCAR more than any other motor sport,although this has been in decline since the early 2000s.

HSV

 Holden Special Vehicles was founded in 1987 as a joint venture between

Holden and Tom Walkinshaw Racing.  Walkinshaw Racing is an operation owned by Scottish racing car driver and entrepreneur Tom Walkinshaw. The first car produced by HSV was the Holden VL Commodore SS Group A SV in 1988 (based on the VL Commodore and not to be confused with the HDT's similarly named Holden VL Commodore SS Group A).  It had a distinctive body kit with a large rear wing (earning it the nicknames "The Batmobile" and the "Plastic Pig") and was powered by a modified version of the Holden 5.0 litre V8, which had dual throttle body electronic fuel injection and was rated at 245 PS (180 kW) in road car form. Over the years HSV have built an array of modified vehicles, most of which have been based on the Commodore and powered by either Holden or GM sourced V8s. Notable models produced by Holden Special Vehicles include the Holden VL Commodore SS Group A SVand Holden VN Commodore SS Group A SV (both developed and produced for Holden), and the HSV badged SV 5000, Clubsport, Senator,GTS, GTS-R, XU6 and Grange models. Since the year 2000, HSV's products have progressively found their way into export markets in limited numbers, most notably to the United Kingdom. In 2007, HSV celebrated its 20th anniversary with the release of the 20th Anniversary Clubsport R8, limited to a production run of 100 vehicles. This anniversary edition was followed by the HSV move into the Middle Eastern market as Chevrolet Special Vehicles (CSV) with the CSV CR8.