We sort of re-fell in love with the suicide door today while compiling our latest list, so we thought we’d ask which application of the byzantine device worked the best for you. Which is the best suicide door-equipped vehicle of all time? Give us a shout, in comments.

To reveal the anticipated Kazamai concept at the Moscow International Auto Salon, Mazda reached into its bag of tricks and pulled out four sets of dancers, guys in neon-pink shorts on roller skates, and to top it all off a forty man singing group adorned in Soviet-style attire. Though the singing group fits within a Russian theme, one has to wonder where the idea for pink men on roller skates came from.
 
The two-door crossover concept Kazamai, which means "swirling crosswinds" in Japanese, is one of several recent concepts that were designed using the "Nagare" design language. As seen above the tangible concept is indeed faithful to the initial renderings released in mid-July.
 
It is still skeptical whether or not this will be the new CX-7 but hopefully it will still keep most, if not all, of its radical curves and lines.
 
+ Autoblog: Moscow 2008: Mazda Kazamai concept officially unveiled

• Previous Image
• Next Image
• Enlarge Image

Caption:

Butterfly Doors

A slight improvement on the exotic scissor door (if one level more complicated can be considered an improvement), the butterfly door moves not only up, but also away from the body of the fantastically expensive machine it’s attached to.

Most Famously Found On: McLaren F1

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Used almost completely without thought by most of us every day, the humble car door has taken on a remarkable number of forms and functions throughout the years. Click through the gallery above to see a sampling of them – both banal and bizarre – and then tell us which we’ve forgotten, in comments.

• Previous Image
• Next Image
• Enlarge Image

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

If you've driven pickups much over the last thirty years, when you're behind the wheel of the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500, the notion might occur that pickups shouldn't be so quiet, ride so smoothly, carve corners so competently, accelerate so quickly, or have so many features. These were our prevailing thoughts as we drove a Laramie 4x4 through the Tennessee countryside, enjoying a driving experience so good that it provides a compelling argument to drive a full-size truck if you can figure out how to rationalize it.

Art Center College of Design student Jake Loniak has designed a concept vehicle that, though seemingly lifted straight from a big-budget sci-fi movie, he claims could be produced today if the resources were available to him. The wearable motorcycle concept is called Deus Ex Machina and would seem to offer unparallel thrills to anyone brave enough to strap themselves in.

The three-wheeled exoskeleton is designed to be parked upright, allowing a driver to simply step in to the suit, and can adjust the position of its wheels to flatten its profile as speed increases. Powered by lithium-ion batteries and ultracapacitors, and controlled through the use of 36 pneumatic “muscles,” the concept would be able to hit 75 miles per hour when topped out.

Deus doesn’t exist as anything but a digital rendering yet, despite our fervent hopes to the contrary, but there is a short video of it in operation available through the link below.

+ Popsci: A Wearable Motorcycle

Here’s a recall you don’t see terribly often: Smart USA is recalling a handful of 2008 ForTwos because a batch of defective apaint may lead to the roof or the windshield flying off.

The recall only affects 43 units, and the bizarre nature of the paint problem points to the car’s unique construction methods. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the faulty paint was applied to the Smart’s chassis and Tridion safety cell framework. Apparently, the paint is a delaminating risk, and if the paint comes apart near the portion where the windshield and roof are adhesive-mounted, they could separate from the rest of the car. According to NHTSA, "This could cause a crash if the roof or windshield separated from the vehicle while in motion.”

Yikes. Owners of the affected ForTwos can look forward to having their Smarts repainted at dealers.

+ NHTSA

In today's automotive marketplace, there are literally countless possibilities for unique paintjobs. Plus, manufacturers are offering wider spectrums of factory colors to save the hassle of having to do it yourself in the aftermarket. So, we want to know: what color is your ride?

Let us know about your personal paint-choice, and feel free to upload a photo, too!

Chinese automaker Brilliance has officially announced that it will show cars at next year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The company says that it would like to start selling cars in the United States sometime in 2009, however, their cars have not yet passed the U.S. government's tests for emissions and safety regulations. Reportedly, company vice president He Guohua said that Brilliance has hired the engineering help of Porsche AG to work on crash test safety, and FEV Inc., a Stateside engine technology company, to reduce emissions.

According to Automotive News, a spokesperson from Brilliance says that the automaker will be showing four models at next year's Detroit show: the FRV hatchback, BC3 coupe (pictured above), BS4 compact car, and BS6 mid-sized sedan.

We like the idea of more Chinese automakers showing their products Stateside, and only time will tell if Brilliance's hopes to sell cars in the U.S. will play out. We'll be sure to give you the full scoop on Brilliance's auto show display this January.

+ Automotive News: China’s Brilliance to show cars at Detroit show

With both the Woodward Dream Cruise and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance festivities having taken place this past weekend, we want to know: What is your favorite type of classic car event? Is it historic racing, a particular concours event, a swap meet, or just a cruise-in at your local ice cream shop? Recount your favorites in ‘Comments.’

• Previous Image
• Next Image
• Enlarge Image

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Could this be the long-rumoured Boxster RS, or is it just an appearance package? That’s the question our spy photographer posed to us after following this black beauty track its way around the Nurburgring this week. If his lens does not deceive us, we’re leaning toward RS status.

In these photos you can see a large, fixed rear wing as opposed to the Boxster’s standard retractable unit. To keep weight down, polycarbonate windows are used in place of glass. Visually, there’s evidence of revised lights in front and rear as well as new bumpers.

• Previous Image
• Next Image
• Enlarge Image

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

According to Automotive News, the new 2009 Ford F-150 will be orderable in almost 10 million different combinations. That may sound like a dizzying array of choices, but that figure represents a cut of more than 90 percent over the 2008 model. In fact, while Ford isn’t saying how much it is cutting the possible number of combinations, it may be as much as a 99 percent cut from the billions of permutations available for MY 2008.

We already told you about some changes that Infiniti is making to the G lineup, including more power for the sedan and all-wheel drive for the coupe. However, Infiniti has officially released this image of their upcoming 2009 G37 Convertible, set to debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show this November.

The same 3.7-liter V-6 is under the hood and Infiniti says it will be able to produce more than 320 horsepower, which should be more than enough to compensate for the extra weight added by the three-piece hardtop. Stay tuned for full details on the car when it is officially revealed in Los Angeles.

• Previous Image
• Next Image
• Enlarge Image

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

After seeing the photos of Ford’s new Ka on display next to the world’s newest bombshell of a Bond girl, we were left wondering if appearances on the big screen help sell cars to our readers. Automakers certainly shell out huge money for the exposure, but does it matter to you? Would a well chosen movie appearance sway your purchasing decision? Let us know, in comments.

We think that Cadillac’s CTS Sport Wagon has got one hot back section, if you’ll excuse us for saying so. In this video, Caddy Global Products Director John Howell explains just what makes the CTS wagon rump so good looking, and why he and the rest of the GM team believe this is “the right car at the right time.” Give a listen.

+ YouTube: The CTS Sport Wagon with GM’s John Howell

Ford is turning its hype machine up to full blast for the next generation of its Mustang, launching a new website today whose sole purpose is to get fans juiced about the pending pony car.  In addition to running the obligatory countdown timer (we’re sure Stang fans worldwide are bookmarking that one), Ford is offering up a little contest as well. The company is soliciting submissions detailing you own “most memorable Mustang story” and will be handing out a shiny new 2010 Mustang, as well as a trip to the car’s unveiling at the L.A. Auto Show to the winner. The contest starts on August 27th, and only asks that entrants limit their musings to 250 words. We can’t wait for the tales of, ahem, lost innocence to start pouring in.

+ The 2010 Mustang

• Previous Image
• Next Image
• Enlarge Image

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

The new Ford Ka is destined to be unveiled at this year's Paris Motor Show, but that hasn't stopped Ford's UK arm from giving us a unique first look at the diminutive car.

Taking up where the Ford Focus left off in Casino Royale, the new Ka has earned a cameo appearance in the new Bond film Quantum of Solace featuring Daniel Craig. The all-new Ka has been given a special gold metallic paint finish with one of a kind exterior graphics and interior trim. More importantly though, it appears in these photos with the lovely Olga Kurylenko, who will portray leading Bond girl Camille in Quantum.

Have a look at woman and machine in our gallery above.

• Previous Image
• Next Image
• Enlarge Image

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Cadillac unveiled its CTS Sport Wagon this morning, adding a key product to its CTS portfolio that enthusiasts have been asking for since the car’s introduction in 2002. Cadillac executives told NextAutos that the wagon could account for as much as 20% of CTS sales in the U.S., a fairly significant amount given the history of wagon sales in our country since the dawn of the minivan and SUV. Sales of the CTS Sport Wagon will start in the Spring of 2009.

Overall the new Sport Wagon is very much a CTS—it’s all common to the sedan from the rear doors forward and it’s built on the same assembly line. It rides on the same 113.4-inch (2,880-mm) wheelbase as the CTS sport sedan and is 0.3-inch (7 mm) shorter. For those seeking to truly use the wagon as a carry-all, there’s a cargo area of 25 cubic feet. The same standard CTS powertrains are available in the wagon, too—a 3.6-liter V-6 in either standard or direction injection flavors. Also like the sedan, either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic is available, with all-wheel-drive as an option.

Like most new product launches these days, the manufacturer attempted to paint the new vehicle in the light of fuel efficiency. In Cadillac’s case with the new sport wagon, we actually think they’re right on target. Cadillac executives believe that in the move away from sport utility vehicles will bring more buyers to the wagon market. If they’re right, the CTS Sport Wagon will be an attractive option. In Europe and the rest of the world, wagon penetration is already high, meaning the CTS will finally be able to match its worldwide competitors with a more complete lineup. A coupe would be nice, too (hint, hint).

Although there’s no CTS-V(agon) announced at this time, Cadillac’s design boss Clay Dean admitted that he had to bite his lip in order to keep the idea from spilling forth. “If you think about it, all the parts and components are common from the wagon to the sedan,” Dean said. “The wagon is the same as the sedan from the rear doors forward, so there’s nothing stopping us from doing that.” When pressed for more information or timing, Cadillac’s savvy PR man Dave Caldwell turned the tables on us. “Well, what do you think? What would you say about that vehicle?” We responded in the affirmative, of course.

We’ll see the CTS Sport Wagon on the auto show circuit later this year and expect to shake out more details at that time.

Click through to read Cadillac's press release.

• Previous Image
• Next Image
• Enlarge Image

• 
• 
• 

Looking an awful lot like the Provoq concept car that inspired it, Cadillac has offer up a few images in what the company calls a "sneak peak" at the 2010 SRX crossover.

The upcoming addition of the CTS Sport Wagon to the Caddy family has allowed designers to lean a little more to the SUV side of the crossover arrangement with this SRX, losing a bit of the high wagon feel that the current car has always conveyed. The car most likely rides on the same Theta crossover platform that underpins the Saturn Vue and the upcoming Saab 9-4X, and is a good bet to be offered in both front- and all-wheel-drive configurations.

Cadillac is saving all the juicy details about the SRX for its launch at an upcoming major auto show – Detroit wouldn’t be a bad guess here – but has provided us with a few photos in the meantime. Check them out in the gallery above.