After being bit by the STI bug on the autocross down at Fontana, I've been trying to stay on top of the next gen WRX/STI rumors. Details are few and far between--maybe because right now all the focus is on the BRZ? But here's a weird one: electric turbo for the next WRX? According to Autoblog:

...heat from the exhaust would be captured, but instead of using the exhaust pressure to turn the turbocharger's turbine, the heat energy would be converted to electricity, which would then spin the impellers. This could be more efficient, as well as eliminating the piping and turbo lag.

Hey, whatever works... Just make it look good and keep it affordable, ok?

Don't be glum, Ford. Your electric Focus will sell. Hell, I'd buy one myself in an instant if I had an extra $39K lying around. Ever since driving a pre-production prototype back in 2010, I've had a special heart full of love for the Focus EV. Back then, it struck me as just a way more convincing stab at the whole electric-car thing than either the Leaf, the Volt, or the jokey Mitsubishi MiEV, all of which I've since become acquainted with. The Focus had more snap to the acceleration, a somewhat more realistic battery range, and just seemed more car than giant iPhone: more like what a saleable EV should be. (Also, I see the electric Focus as the evolutionary descendant of my Escorts, which may be part of why I have a soft spot for it). Things may have changed some with the production version—I wouldn't know, I haven't driven one yet. And Ford CEO Alan Mulally is predicting that fewer than 5,000 units will sell in the first year of production—less than half of the Leaf's first-year sales figure. And in a sense, he may be right: Ford was always a Johnny-come-lately to the EV game, and the electric tide may have already crested, leaving Ford to pick up what's left now that the early adopters are smugly ensconced in their Volts and their Leaves. On the other hand, they could be looking at electric vehicles, as they well should be, as a "long-term strategy," in which case starting with small sales shouldn't be that big a deal. But whatever the reasoning, I really hope they're not planning to pull one of these self-fulfilling prophecies like automakers are known for contriving around new technologies they have no financial interest in adopting. You know: haphazard R&D process, + endlessly deferred production schedule + weak marketing campaign = flat sales and then "Yep, there, see? The public will never be interested in buying these things." I hate it when they do that. Come on, Ford, give it a real shot before you go getting all depressed! Full story at Autoblog.

Car and Driver is claiming that the next Miata will drop 300 pounds to bring the weight down to featherweight 2,200 pounds. Power will come from a turbo 1.3-liter four banger rated near the current car's 167 hp. And they are expecting the look to be heavily influenced by the Kodo design language of the Shinari and Takeri concept cars. Take that, BRZ!

In case anyone was worried that people don't already spend enough time behind the wheel twiddling with their devices, Microsoft has unveiled Project Detroit, "a concept car created to inspire developers to think about building apps and automotive technologies of the future." Great, now even classic-car owners can be glued to a screen wherever they go, with infotainment technologies including Xbox 360, Windows Phone, Bing, and Ford Sync beamed into the car through Microsoft's "connected-device scenarios" includes. The fastback Mustang was built in collaboration with Ryan Friedlinghaus of West Coast Customs fame. And the car will be featured on Inside West Coast Customs this Sunday on Discovery, so if you're interested you can get a closer look. More pics below the jump, via Microsoft.

The GT500 hardtop is going to run $54,995 including destination charge, and the convertible version will set you back $59,995. What do you think, is that about right or is it too much? Remember, this is a 650 hp Mustang we're talking about. More details at Carscoop.

I guess we should've known that the prospect of a small, cute, affordable, four-banger turbodiesel pickup on American soil was just too good to be true. Indian manufacturer Mahindra announced back in '06 that it wished to bring its little trucks to the US market, and began developing the bureaucratic infrastructure necessary to do so, including retaining would-be US distributor Global Vehicles USA. But now Mahindra has officially pulled the plug on these ambitions following a protracted contractual battle with Global, the details of which are really too boring to go into. So our hopes are dashed. But the fact still remains, the US needs a small pickup, especially in the wake of the Ranger's departure. I realize CAFE standards make it difficult to develop and sell such a vehicle, but with fuel prices again on the rise and struggling small business owners looking for more affordable fleet vehicles, we have to assume that this is going to change. Hey, if the Ford Transit Connect can make it as a contractor's vehicle or delivery runabout in American cities, a small pickup would do at least as well. What manufacturer would you like to see step in to fill the small-truck niche? Via PickupTrucks.com.

Seems like Honda turned away from the enthusiast years ago, but with the latest Civic, even the mainstream press and average consumers started to balk. Market share has been slipping and Honda corporate has finally realized that it's time to take the company back from the bean counters. Read this article at Automotive News and let us know if you think Honda can turn it around.

Mexico City's famous Beetle taxis are up for license expiration this year, and the city has decided it's time to take them off the roads. While they're a charming icon, they present obvious safety issues, not the least of which is the ease of armed robbery: because they've only got two doors, a bad guy can force his way in through the passenger side door, leaving hapless tourists no way to escape. They're also collision death-traps, though some of the cabbies want to hang on to the bugs precisely because of their fragility: says one cabbie, "Today [the taxis] are bigger, and they drive faster. Before, they drove more cautiously, because any accident would destroy them." Remember that in Mexico they produced old-style Beetles right up until 2003. But, sad to say, there probably isn't a place for such an antiquated machine in the midst of modern urban traffic: when you think about it, it's a wonder that they even hung on as long as they did. RIP! Full story at Detroit News.

The tiny Fiesta ST will put 177 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels and will get a manual 6-speed. And while the European market is certainly getting it, there's a chance it might eventually make its way to the US as well, which would make it a lot easier for me to obtain a drivetrain from a wrecked one in the future to swap into one of my Escorts. Don't hold your breath, though: Ford hasn't yet announced any specs or ETA for a US version. More pics at Autoblog.

According to German car site AutoBild, Toyota's chief engineer has confirmed a future drop-top version of the Toyota 86 / Scion FR-S. No word on whether the Subaru BRZ would also get a convertible bodystyle, but Tetsuya Tada told Autobild that the 86 was designed from the get-go with a convertible bodystyle option in mind. What do you think, is it hot? Via ft86club.