Whenever we hear about a new Jeep Wrangler, there's always a concern that the changes will makes the iconic vehicle less capable. Will it be converted to independent front and rear suspension from its current live axle setup? Is it going to share platforms with some crossover? Thankfully, for 2011 the answer to both of these questions is no.

True to its promise of reinventing itself for the new year, Dodge is coming to the 2011

First came the 911. Then the Boxster. Now the Cayman is the Porsche getting revised engines (including direct fuel injection for S models) and a new seven-speed twin-clutch transmission dubbed Porsche Doppel-Kupplungsgetriebe—or PDK, for those not inclined to German. PDK replaces the aging Tiptronic five-speed manumatic transmission. The base Cayman’s engine gets a 0.2-liter and 20-hp boost to 2.9 liters and 265 hp, and the Cayman S gains an additional 25 horses, up to 320.

The steam is running out on the launch of Lexus’ CT 200h, so what better way to keep up the pace than to bring out a special Lexus CT200h hybrid concept designed by Five Axis?

Based on the Range Rover Sport

Land Rover has announced plans to introduce the Range_e prototype at the Geneva Motor Show.

I've never wanted to own a Porsche 911, though they are great fun to drive. They're even wilder to ride in with a pro like Walter Rohrl flailing away at the helm. Such rides sometimes make me wonder if the "laws of physics" are open to creative interpretation like our Constitution. But two mechanical engineering degrees tell me they're not, hence, in my mind no proper racebred chassis should have its engine cantilevered off the rear axle (or the front). Yes, the 911's setup loads the rear tires for better launch acceleration and provides slightly better weight distribution under hard braking, but if this arrangement is superior, why doesn't anybody else in racing use it? I'm willing to bet that a mid-engine Cayman could spank a 911 on the Nürburgring if equipped with equivalent power, tires, and chassis optimization. So is it just pig-headed German stubbornness keeping the Cayman down?

Now, we know we have already seen two concepts- FT-86 and FT-86 II - for this vehicle, but will have to endure one more as Toyota has brought us yet another FT-86 concept. This time it has been revealed at the New York Auto Show under the Scion badge and it won’t go into production until Toyota finally brings their production version later this year at the Tokyo Motor Show. The Scion FR-S Concept is a preview version of a new model coming to the Scion brand next year.

Hennessey isn’t just about creating uber-sexy vehicles like the Venom GT. In fact, a lot of their projects entail tuning up existing models and then slapping on an HPE title coupled with the appropriate horsepower number. The latest vehicle to be blessed with the alphanumeric title is the 2009-2011 Dodge Ram and its new HPE500 designation.

After rolling out sedan, wagon, and AMG variants of its new 2012 C-Class, Mercedes-Benz has released the first official details surrounding its latest C-Class spinoff -- the 2012 C-Class Coupe -- before its public debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

The first acceleration run is worthless, nothing but front-tire spin and smoke. Easing up the second time around, we bog the engine, miss a shift, and turn in a quarter-mile time that could vote.

The skiers beside us don't know what to think. One minute they were traversing a catwalk from one run to the other, the next minute there's a $90,000 Mercedes-Benz sedan merging onto the trail like some sort of Bond villain on the run.

The best of both worlds

Volvo has taken the wraps off the V60 Plug-in Hybrid, ahead of its debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

Next time you're feeling a little groggy at the start of your commute, forget Starbucks. We've found that a good smoky burnout will produce the same effect as a triple macchiato. We're not sure if it's the smell of melting Michelins or the neighbors screaming for you to grow up, but a good spin of the tires always leaves us feeling quite wide awake — and it doesn't cost four bucks either.

The Jeep Wrangler and its four-door sibling, the Wrangler Unlimited, are Jeep’s best-selling models despite remaining practically unchanged for years. The Wrangler’s pure, unfiltered charm and off-road prowess are the reasons it sells so well. For 2011, Jeep has addressed one of the SUV’s biggest letdowns by revamping the interior. The new trappings look much sharper and take cues from the new Grand Cherokee.

At the risk of alienating my Inside Line colleagues, my best friends in automotive journalism, Jerry Seinfeld, and the whole of Porsche's PR machine, I have a confession to make: I've never thought much of the Boxster.