Again these rumors are floating around the car industry circles. Sources are now saying that the Q1 will be released but will carry a different badge and be known as the Q2. It will be using a mix of the A1 platform and the MQB platform. The latter will actually be used by Volkswagen to underpin practically all their vehicles like the next A3 for the Audi.

The engines will be used for several models like the A1 that means that the 1.2L 4-cylinder powerplant will be the base engine, well at least for the vehicles in Europe. Buyers in Europe will also be able get a diesel version, too.

The base models of the Q2 will have a front wheel drive configuration but there will be an all wheel drive version for the higher end models. Although it will have an all wheel drive capability, do not expect the Q2 to give you excellent for serious off roading, and at best it will be for light dirt road stuff.

The exterior of the Q2 resembles design lines more from the A1 than its cousin the Audi A3, and will have a redesigned headlamp using LEDs which have only been used before for the more expensive vehicles. If you expect the Q2 to go on a head on collision course with the MINI so we can expect Audi to trow in some personalization for the Q2 models like contrasting finsh for the mirrors and the roof.

The inside of the vehicle is expected to have enough space for four adults and somewhat a limited space for the luggage because of the plunging roofline. The interior panels might be customizable to give a unique personalized experience.

According to sources, the concept Q2 is still being developed and we can expect a production version in two or three years time. If Audi will officially unwrap the concept Q2 next year, the compact crossover might hit showrooms by 2015 or 2016.

The performance division of the car manufacturer already hinted of efforts that they want to build the successor to the Neon SRT4 in the form of the Caliber SRT4. This ride will make use of DNA from the Alfa Romeo brand specifically the C-EVO platform.

The Italian engineered platform is not only agile and light but it also goes well with the dual clutch gearbox with six speeds that is also being used for the Cloverleaf model of the Giulietta of Alfa Romeo. The SRT4 will most likely have the same transmission as part of its options while keeping the six speed gearbox as standard. We can also expect a turbocharged powerplant which equals or surpass the output of the Ford Focus ST of 247 horses.

The Caliber SRT4 gives out at least 285 horsepower with a torque of around 265 lb-ft from its 4-cylinder 2.4L engine. The numbers of the Dart SRT4 might closely resemble these figures. The best option that we see is to have a turbocharged 2.0L Dart Tigershark engine.

You can also expect the SRT to have some upgrades for its chassis like have a stiffer suspension setup, sway bars for the rear and front, some modifications on the steering to make it more accurate and responsive. A new set of upgraded tires, rims, and brakes.

Consumers in Europe can expect the refreshed A4 coming in as a sedan, Allroad quattro, wagon, and as an S4 version. The car manufacturer said that the S4 version can go from 0 to 62 miles an hour in just 5 seconds. The top speed is recorded at 155 mph. The A4 returns a fuel rating of 29.4 mpg.

The new Audi A4 is expected to meet head on its rivals in the form of the C-Class from Mercedes-Benz and the 3-Series of the BMW. The A4 is ready for the competition as it gets styling upgrades, improved engines, and better interior.

On the outside, the Audi A4 gets more curves for its headlamps with its LED lamps now looking like a continuous band. It also sports a new six corner grille that comes in gray for 4-cylinder versoins and black for 6-cylinder variants. The hood also gets a restyling as well as the bumpers which gets trapezoid fog lamps. The rear bumper was also reworked going well with the chrome twin tailpipes. The tail lights also now feature LEDs similar to the headlamps.

The Audi A4 also features new steering wheel design, better dashboard quality, improved switch gear, and better navigational system.

The Audi A4 has an additional engine option in the form of the 4-cylinder 1.8L TFSI powerplant which is also utilized for the A5 Sportback. This engine gives out 168 horsepower or about 10hp better than the previous version. This new engine is paired wih a 6-speed manual gearbox. Fuel mileage is at 42 mpg. This engine has been released for the European market and is also being considered for the U.S. Audi also has a reworked its 2.0 4-cylinder diesel engine for some variants.

For Europe, the A4 still retains the 4-cylinder 1.8L engine and the 2.0L TFSI powerplant is retained for the U.S. market. The S4 still boasts of its 3.0L V6 that gives out 328 hp.

According to the official statement, the number of GM automobile architecture will drop from 30 in 2010 to 14 in 2018. Their engine platforms will take a dive from 20 in 2009 to just 12 in 2018. Their long term goal is to make the engine platform figures to just 10. According to executives from General Motors, the number of unproductive development practices is causing them almost $1 billion annually. This is supported by the claim made by Senior Vice President, Mary Barra who confirmed that they lost almost $1 billion annually because of inefficient production practices and that they’ve been in an up-down cycle when it comes to product investment.

Barra added that the launch dates for the Buick Enclave, the GMC Acadia and the Chevrolet Traverse continue to take a drawback due to fluctuating financial conditions. Having common architectures will help the company take the product lines to the show rooms faster.

The press release also mentioned that the American brand will begin producing Cadillacs in China by the bulk late in 2012. Additionally, GM is will set up another assembly plant in Russia and about four more in China. Lastly, GM is said to be planning to debut about 16 new models in China in the span of five years.

BMW is foreseeing an evolution in terms naming the vehicles across the different brands. BMW has not revealed what the new smaller BMW model that will be positioned below the 1 Series will be called and so far the marketing department of BMW would not say a word. Director of marketing Ian Robertson though noted of the upcoming I models, and the Z, X, and M models. He added that a lot of numbers might be used in the future.

The naming of the cars for the Rolls Royce and the Mini can even get more complicated. Names that has already been copyrighted across the globe makes the situation even tougher. Robertson recalls his work with the Land Rover during which the company thought of giving the SUV the name Freestyle which can become Freelander for Europe and LR2 in the United States, but they found out that these names are already in use in different markets.

The marketing director of BMW did not give any hint of how the future Mini’s and Rolls Royces will be called but we think they will also be getting alpha numeric badges.

Different issues like copyright and the century long history of car production makes naming cars for different brands very difficult. We might see car names getting duller and boring as we go along.

The J.D. survey revealed that almost 32% of Chinese car consumers prefer to go after European brands. About 27% of the respondents involved in the survey expressed that they would go for a Japanese car brand like Toyota or Mitsubishi. The rate in the 2009 study was 32 percent. Furthermore, only 20% of the survey respondents revealed that they would patronize a Chinese brand.

The results of the J.D. survey suggest that Chinese consumers shift to European brands because of their high-tech transmission and engine technology as well as its topnotch quality and dependability. Moreover, the respondents added that strong verbal approval add to its appeal. The Audi A4L model has been regarded as the most wanted European model among Chinese consumers, along with the VW Tiguan as the most wanted SUV.

Sadly, Japanese brands have suffered low support from the Chinese consumers because of its lack of endorsements from families and friends who swear by them. However, the J.D. survey seems to have not mentioned American brands like General Motors Inc. which sold 2 million car units in 2010 alone. Popular GM models in China include the Chevy Cruze, Buick GL8 and the Chevy Sail.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is eager in its announcement that they have reached a “new frontier in the fight against drunk driving.” The government office has shared its plans to install a state-of-the-art technology that would detect alcohol in several vehicles sometime in the next eight to ten years.

This new technology, aptly called the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety, would come with a system called the Tissue Spectrometry, a touch-base system that would be able to detect the presence of alcohol in ones blood concentration. Another option would be to use the Distant Spectrometry device that would detect the alcohol presence in the driver’s breath. Once the system detects that the driver is intoxicated, the car would go into self-disabling mode. Pretty ambitious indeed, thought it might pose a great deal of a problem for those who work in bars and places where they serve alcohol.

At present time, a five-year $10 million cooperative budget effort has been made between car makers and the government in order to make these technologies available. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the project will start with actual demonstrations of these technologies to the public towards the end of this year. Here are some of the car makers that have joined the project: Mitsubishi, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo, Porsche, BMW, Ford, Chrysler, Hyundai/Kia, Mazda, GM, Jaguar/Land Rover, Nissan, Honda and Mercedes-Benz. Clearly, this looks like a promising effort being made by the car companies themselves and the federal government to lessen the number of drunk drinking incidents in the US.

The sales of Mercedes-Benz jumped by 11% or by 16,398 units compared to their last year’s numbers. BMW sprung by 21% or by as much as 15,905 vehicles. Lexus on the other hand fell by 17% or by 12,860 vehicles.

Lexus was able to protect its position last year and held off the two other rivals BMW and Mercedes to keep the top position in terms of sales in the Unite States. Lexus held the position for 11 years. The German brands have outpaced and outpositioned the Japanese Toyota unit with the X3 of BMW hitting the showrooms and the C-Class of Mercedes Benz getting a face lift.

The lead of Lexus is getting smaller with its 2009 19,473 units lead shrinkign to 9,216 last year. The sales of Lexus jumped 6.2% in 2010 or by around 229, 329 units while BMW’s numbers sprung by 12% or by as much as 220, 113 vehicles for 2010. Mercedes-Benz was able to achiev a 14% jump or 216,448 cars for 2010.

Lexus had a good push towards the end of 2010 to keep it afloat. The good race between the three luxury brands will impact the stats for the segment early this year. Lexus surely suffered from the recalls made by Toyota resulting to more incetive spendings for the company.

The 734-page file also includes the state in which senior management is being paid an uncompetitive salary because of the limitations that comes from the government’s aid to the GM.  There is also the matter of unhealthy financial controls inside the company the negative effects of GM’s deflating dealer body to its market share and sales in the U.S.

According to GM, the sales and market share will suffer when they decide to let go of several brands and cut down their U.S. dealer network.  In 2009, there were approximately 5,600 GM dealers in the U.S.  In June 2010, the figure goes down to 5,200.  The initial plan was to cut down the dealerships by 3,600 to 4,000 in the long run that in 2009, the automaker has ended their franchise deals with over 2,000 dealers. But the new federal law urged GM to revive at least 700 of these terminated dealerships while some were restored through government mandated negotiations.  GM now plans to cut their US dealers to around 4,500 towards the end of this year.

Mini gets an engine note to make its 4-cylinder diesel powerplant sound like a V8 muscle car. The engineers actually came up with four notes which are now being tested with a Mini and with a prototype BMW 635d.

The sound technology makes use of the vehicle’s own sound system to create a better driving experience. Drivers will perceive that the vehicle is performing better when compared to a same vehicle with the same specs but without the V8 sound technology. The sound technology feeds a generated sound through the cabin via the sound system of the car while also utilizing panels to lower the real sound of the car coming from its engine bay.

BMW wants to make most of the new engine notes to push for their diesel engine units. The company believes that all the diesel vehicles lack today is the right sound added to their efficient engine and their good torque.

The sound technology involves a more intricate process of design and refinements to produce the right sound compared to old ways of sound design which primarily revolves around the exhaust system and the intake.

Autocar features a video of the car. It is a short one but you will be able to appreciate the V8 sound of the Mini Clubman.

Click here to view the embedded video.