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Mazda 3, Chevy Camaro and Equinox win big in Internet Car and Truck of the year awards

Awards handed out in the automotive industry are as easy to come by as penny on the sidewalk. Some, such as Car and Driver’s “10-Best” and Motor Trends “Car and Truck of the Year” are merely automaker sponsored advertising packages passed off as reputable achievements. That’s why when an actual honest award comes around, we think you should know about it.

2011 Silverado HD details and pictures released

Class-leading torque, class-leading fuel economy with up to 63-percent lower emissions and quicker acceleration with new 6.6L Duramax diesel mated to new Allison 1000 six-speed automatic transmission

First look at production Camaro Synergy Special Edition

Chevy is on a roll with the Camaro and it’s currently outselling Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger. That makes it just about the right time to introduce a limited edition run, wouldn’t you think? So, starting in February and ending in May, Chevy will allow customers to order the lime green “Synergy Special Edition” Package in limited quantities.

The Synergy Edition Camaro will run based on the 1LT package, featuring the 304-horsepower V-6 engine. Buyers can choose between a manual or automatic and the car also features a standard rear spoiler, Cyber Grey rally stripes, and 19-inch sterling silver painted wheels. The interior hue is also updated with Synergy Green trim.

“Synergy Green continues a long tradition of dramatic Camaro colors,” says Camaro historian Scott Settlemire. “Some of the most sought-after Camaros are first generation cars – those from 1967 to 1969 – in Hugger Orange, Daytona Yellow, and Rallye Green. Just as those colors helped make the first generation Camaro an icon, modern colors like Inferno Orange, Rallye Yellow Transformers Edition and Synergy Green will define the 2010 Camaro.” Read on for more pictures and the full release.

2010 NAIAS: Lexus shows LFA, no you can’t touch it

Poised on a pedestal and behind it’s own security guard sat Lexus’ super coupe. Powered by a 552 horsepower V10 the LFA leaps to 60 in 3.6 seconds and keeps going to 202 mph. The mostly carbon fiber car was off limits, we’d imagine that Lexus isn’t ready to let the $350,000 rocket into the hands of just “any” automotive journalist just yet.

2010 NAIAS: Ford Bumps up Power, MPG’s in Next-Gen 2012 Focus

Ford was able to satisfy both the power hungry and fuel-misers in the next generation Focus. Getting a bump of 20 horsepower to 155 horsepower and a mileage increase of 10%. This is accomplished from a 2.0-liter DOHC I-4 engine with Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) and direct injection (DI). This isn’t an update to the North American Focus, nope this is the European-Spec model that we’ve been asking for. In fact, Ford says that the new Focus will use 80% common parts all around the world.

Lotus Evora wins BBC “Top Gear” Sports Car of the Year title

The Lotus Evora chalked up a nice honor recently, taking home the “Top Gear” magazine Sports Car of the Year honors, celebrating the 10th year the mag has given out such platitudes.

Cadillac debuts supercharged CTS-V Coupe, let the drooling begin

If the CTS-V sedan just wasn’t your thing then Cadillac hopes the coupe is. Powered by the same 556 supercharged V8 found in the CTS-V sedan, the coupe starts production this summer. Featuring Cadillac’s Magnetic Ride Control, Brembo brakes and an available automatic, paddle-shift transmission.

The CTS-V coupe takes a lot from its sedan counter part but it is about an inch wider in the rear track. It’s also about two inches shorter in length and height. The shrinking doesn’t appear to have any weight savings as the car still does 0-60 in a staggering 3.9 seconds, although official weight numbers weren’t released. If the actual weight didn’t drop, we would hope either the price does, or the handling improves in coupe form.

Full Press Release Follows:

Bentley Continental Supersports goes green

We all know that Kermit the Frog was ahead of his time when he sang “it ain’t easy bein’ green.”

This however is the new mantra in the automotive world and Bentley is crowing about its latest iteration from Crewes to be the first of the Continental lineup to meet the standards with the Continental Supersports.

2010 Ram Power Wagon drives home “Four Wheeler Pickup Truck of the Year”

Since it’s the holidays and assuredly better to give than receive, the magazines, net sites, newsgroups and others are handing out their awards.

Dedicated off-road magazine Four Wheeler handed its “Pickup Truck of the Year” hardware to the 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 Power Wagon, giving a needed morale boost to Chrysler as well.

Mulsanne to be new Bentley flagship sedan in 2010; Starting price in the US will be $285,000

After a successful debut at Pebble Beach past August in the USA, and at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September, Bentley has released that its new flagship sedan, the Mulsanne, will begin with deliveries to the UK this coming summer and the USA in the fall of 2010.