Nissan Launches New Dualis Crossover in Japan

Nissan rolled out its new Dualis midsize crossover in Japan on Wednesday, with a relatively low price range of $16,080 to $19,970. The domestic debut of the Dualis follows the February launch of the model in Europe under the Qashqai name.

The company's home-market aspirations for sales volume are fairly modest. Nissan targets annual sales of 24,000 Dualis crossovers in Japan versus sales goals of about 106,000 vehicles in Europe. The midsize crossover will be launched in other markets, including Australia and South Africa, in the future.

The Dualis, which has the dimensions of a compact hatchback, gets a DOHC 2.0-liter inline-4 that delivers 140 horsepower and 147 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to the company's new continuously variable transmission with a six-speed manual shift mode. Four-wheel-drive models of the Dualis borrow the advanced all-mode 4x4 system featured on the Nissan X-Trail. Stability control is optional. Nissan said it used sophisticated Computation Fluid Dynamics analysis for the first time ever in designing the body of the Dualis. It resulted in a drag coefficient of 0.35, one of the lowest such figures for a vehicle in its class.

High-tech options include a sideview monitor that reduces blind spots and a rearview monitor.

The Euro-designed Dualis will be built in the U.K. and shipped to Japan.

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Mini carbon footprint

Mini is all set to launch a revised and super-economical Cooper D.

The new car replaces the just-introduced model and will be capable of 72.4mpg. It will have carbon dioxide emissions of just 104g/km, which is the same as a Toyota Prius.

The revised Cooper D arrives in August, and Mini reckons the model will do away with the need for hybrid power for some time to come.

The Cooper D will also feature other fuel-saving technology, including Auto Start-Stop, which cuts the engine when sitting at the lights and starts it again as soon as you want to pull away.

There's also a display to tell the driver when's the best time to change up a gear for maximum economy. Who says you can't be green and have fun at the same time?

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Buick Skylark for China in 2009

General Motors will launch a new Buick Skylark compact in China in 2009 that could be exported to the U.S. as a 2010 model.

The Skylark will replace the Daewoo-based Excelle in China and will be assembled by the Shanghai GM joint venture, Inside Line has learned.

GM also is considering whether to add another Chinese Buick, the new Australia-sourced Park Avenue sedan, to its U.S. lineup in 2009, supplier sources told IL.

The new Skylark is based on GM's Delta 2 global small-car architecture. It will share its underpinnings with the next-generation Chevrolet Cobalt, Opel Astra and Pontiac G6. A new Saab, the 9-1, will be based on the same platform, as will the next-generation Saturn Astra.

The current Buick Excelle that's built in China is a version of the Daewoo Lacetti that's also sold in North America as the Suzuki Forenza and in other overseas markets as the Chevrolet Optra. The next-generation Lacetti also is expected to shift to the Delta 2 platform in Korea.

The new Park Avenue is based on the Holden Statesman and goes on sale shortly in China. IL has learned that Buick's U.S. dealers have asked for the car in late 2008 as an '09 model. GM has tentative plans to assemble a redesigned Park Avenue, based on its Zeta rear-drive architecture, in North America in late 2010, alongside a new rear-drive Chevrolet Impala.

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2007 Mastretta MXT Prototype: more photos

(from Mastretta Design Press Release) Mexico City based TECNOIDEA, S.A DE C.V (www.mastrettadesign.com) has presented the first prototype of its new MASTRETTA MXT sports car.


The MXT is a two seat, mid engine sports car to be offered in local and international markets.

Developed in house by our design team, the MXT project has also benefited from of a two year collaboration program between our company and some prestigious engineering companies based in England and the USA.

The frame has specially developed aluminum extrusions with steel complementary subframes. The suspension uses unequal wishbones all around.

The body will be produced using closed mold, high quality fiberglass technology.

The engine and transaxle of the production car will come from a high volume manufacturer established in Mexico.

The car is now under final development and intensive testing program before presentation for Low Volume Type Approval for sales in Europe. In the U.S. market, the car will be initially offered as a component car with a “Track day “ version also offered by end of 2008.

Presentation to the market will be in December 2007 and production will start on January 2008.

First year production target is 150 units.

We are also in the process of creating a distribution network for U.S, Europe, Japan, and other international markets.

SPECIFICATIONS

Price: USD$ 55,000.00
Production: Jan 2008
Engine: L4, 2.3 liters, normally asp.
Weight: 970 Kg.
HP: 200
Top Speed: 230 Km/h
0 – 100 Km/h: 5.8 seconds
Brakes Vented Disc 11.75 inches, ABS

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Sportec Audi S3

Swiss tuning house Sportec is offering a new go-fast edition of the Audi S3, already a superb compact flyer.

Sportec takes the turbocharged 2.0-liter T-FSI engine, adds some software tweaks and nudges output from 265 to 300 horsepower, with torque climbing from 258 to 302 pound-feet. Top speed rises slightly, from 160 to 165 mph, while 0-60-mph acceleration time is trimmed by nearly a second, to just under 5.1 seconds.

Other enhancements include the addition of a stainless-steel sport exhaust system, high-performance brakes, coil-over suspension and a choice of either 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels, shod with Continental Pneus.

In addition to some subtle exterior mods, Sportec's package bundles aluminum pedals, a short-throw shifter and Alcantara upholstery.

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Hyundai QarmaQ

OK, so the jury is out on the looks of the Qarmaq, Hyundai's crossover coupe-SUV. Actually, that's not quite true. It looks a bit daft.

But the cartoonish looks mask a car that's chock-full of brilliant ideas.

Designed at Hyundai's Tech Centre in Germany in close conjunction with GE plastics, the QarmaQ has more than 30 advanced features that Hyundai says will be rolled out on its road cars from 2008 to 2014.

And number one of these is the car's bodyshell, made from the same PET plastic used for soft drink bottles - in fact, each car will re-use about 900 bottles that would otherwise become landfill.

Thanks to the use of a variety of plastics, including lightweight polycarbonate resin windows, the QarmaQ is 60kg lighter than it would be if it were built more conventionally.

And once its time is up, it should prove to be a cinch to recycle. Or even re-recycle.

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VW Proton Talks Sputter

The Malaysian government, which controls automaker Proton, said it will not provide a financial bailout for the struggling company, now that it appears discussions have broken off once again with Volkswagen.

Both VW and General Motors had expressed an interest in acquiring a stake in Proton, but neither automaker made an offer by the government's late-March deadline.

Instead, VW now appears to be looking at establishing a regional assembly facility in nearby Indonesia, according to government officials in Jakarta. Among the company's alternatives is a tie-up with a local assembly partner in Indonesia.

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kia picanto

When Kia takes the wraps off its face-lifted 2007 Picanto at the Salon Internacional del Automovil in Barcelona on June 7, it will show off a small car that appears to draw inspiration from such Japanese powerhouses as Scion. For starters, the redone Picanto pays more attention to amenities, with the addition of what Kia describes as "higher-quality audio equipment."

The Picanto — known as the Kia Morning in the home market — gets cosmetic upgrades for 2007, including a "more rounded and intimate" look, the automaker says. The '07 Picanto is 1.6 inches longer, although the wheelbase is unchanged at 93.3 inches. The Picanto now has a more snub-nosed appearance and a larger rear bumper. It also adopts the new "face of Kia," with a wider radiator grille with a black mesh background and twin horizontal chromed bars.

The Korean automaker's design teams in Europe and Korea are responsible for the new look of this A/B segment car. Kia noted that it plans to expand sales of the Picanto to 90,000 units annually over the next few years. The Picanto is bound for Europe and Korea, with no plans to sell it in the U.S., since it is considered to be too small for American tastes.

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Kit Heaven: Sebring International Exalt

Despite rumors of the demise of the British auto industry, you would not have felt a funereal attitude at Stoneleigh Park, south of Birmingham, this month. At a major kit-car confab, there was no shortage of small enterprises exhibiting their specialty cars, including plenty of Lotus Seven and Cobra replicas. One standout was the exotic Exalt Sebring International.

Sebring International offers high-quality replicas of the Austin-Healey 3000 in addition to being a dealership for used TVR sports cars. As is often the case, one of the company leaders had an idea on how to improve the looks of the classic 1960s roadster and set out to find the necessary bits and pieces. The result was the Exalt.

Classy touches include the rear lamps from the moribund Ford StreetKa roadster and a frog-eyed front that hints at Austin-Healey's other success story, the Sprite, which was nicknamed Frogeye.

So far only a non-running prototype exists, but reaction at the show convinced Sebring to make self-build kits available by year's end.

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Mitsubishi Delica D:5 Roadest

When they were still on relatively friendly terms, Mitsubishi and Chrysler discussed the possibility of sharing a version of the Dodge Caravan, much as Mitsubishi received its own version of the Dakota pickup.

It's probably a good thing the minivan deal never happened. We're even more convinced of that after seeing the latest version of Mitsubishi's home-market-only Delica van, dubbed D:5 Roadest (and, yes, there is only one T in the name).

When the redesigned Delica was unveiled last fall, it bore the unmistakable DNA of Mitsubishi's recent designs. Now, with the arrival of the Roadest, the humble family hauler also adds a hint of the Japanese automaker's performance chops.

Although the factory engines remain largely untouched, the Roadest features lower ride height, 17-inch wheels and tires, an aero body kit and choice of monochrome paint schemes. Prices range from $20,900 to $25,400.

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Land Rover

Put on the oven gloves: offsetting is a serious hot potato at the moment.

Basically, it's all about neutralising your carbon dioxide emissions. You do this by investing in something which reduces or avoids CO2 altogether, so that the amount saved offsets your original emissions.

Typical offsetting projects include persuading Eritreans to swap their open fires for charcoal stoves or, more commonly, converting to renewable energy sources and planting trees.

Trade in 'carbon credits' has become very brisk recently, each credit worth about the same as a tonne of carbon. Concerned pop stars like the Pet Shop Boys and Radiohead have been doing it for years; concerned car companies like Land Rover have recently realised that it might be the only way to avoid the mother of all PR disasters as the anti-4x4 lobby becomes more militant.

The 'carbon economy' is growing rapidly: by 2009 it's expected to exceed £300m globally.

Yet critics doubt its effectiveness, and claim it's just a cop-out for big business. Kevin Anderson, a climate change research scientist, told The Guardian, "Offsetting is a dangerous delaying technique. If we had gone to the limit of what we can do in our own lives then it would be a route to go down, but we've not even started to make changes to our behaviour."

Mike Mason, founder of Climate Care, the carbon offset organisation working with Land Rover, disagrees. "We've all got to climb Mount Climate Change and the greenies would like us all to put on our crampons and ice axes and go straight up the north face."

In other words, at least we're starting somewhere.

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2008 Ford F-250/350 Harley-Davidson Edition

On the heels of the official introduction of the 2007 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson edition earlier this week, photographers have spied the 2008 Ford F-250 Super Duty Harley-Davidson out testing.

While the F-150 Harley-Davidson was coated in purple paint, the future Super Duty Harley-Davidson truck gets a black-and-copper paint scheme all around. Copper-colored lower rocker panels continue around the rear wheel well to wrap the rear bumper, and copper-colored seat inserts and trim panels dress up the big truck's interior.

Harley-Davidson badges are visible from every exterior angle, including the center caps of the large black-and-chrome wheels. Harley badges also adorn the F-250's front seats.

The blacked-out grille forgoes the Super Duty embossing found on regular models, and Ford has added horizontal chrome strips within the grille frame. Revised headlamps flank the sides, and a new Ford oval is upsized with an extra chrome ring.

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Ford Nucleon

Ah, the heady innocence of the 1950s. An era when nuclear power wasn't a dirty word that conjured up images of glowing sheep and barren landscapes. Or Wales, as it's better known.

No, the world of the 1950s was all aquiver at the seemingly limitless prospects of atomic energy. From trains to wristwatches, everything was going to be powered by the glorious, clean - and cheap - power of fission.

Including cars. In 1957, Ford came up with this: the Nucleon concept. With a design that looks sleek and futuristic - albeit a trifle weird - even now, the Nucleon was the most ambitious project ever to come out of Ford's development stable.

Ambitious because it was powered by a small nuclear reactor strung between the rear wheels. The setup was, in principle, the same as that of a nuclear submarine - only much smaller. It would use uranium fission to convert water into high-pressure steam, which would drive a set of turbines.

Then the steam would condense back into water, and sent back to the steam generator in a closed system - allowing the reactor to keep producing power for as long as active nuclear material remained.

And when it ran out - after 5,000 miles or so, calculated Ford's engineers - the nuclear reactor would simply be changed at a roadside nuclear station. Which would be common, obviously. Best of all, you could choose a reactor based on your personal needs - efficient and long-lasting or as powerful as, erm, a nuclear explosion.

A nifty theory, but one that never took off. Unsurprisingly, really, because the public's nuclear bubble burst (or rather exploded messily) and the risks of driving bumper-to-bumper with other radioactive cars sank in. And so, predictably, the project was shelved.

But nuclear-powered cars might be back on the agenda. A senior analyst at JP Morgan recently predicted that nuclear-fuelled hydrogen might provide the next generation of cars with power, and several of the oil giants have confirmed their interest in nuclear technologies.

Yes, the worries of safety remain, but Tony Blair has admitted this week that nuclear is going to play a big part in powering Britain's future.

Powering its cars too? Ford's engineers might not nave been so far off the mark.

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Nissan Mulls Altima Convertible

Nissan is looking to pry open niches using existing hardware, and the four-place convertible market might be next in the company's sights if it green-lights the idea of an Altima convertible. In creating the Altima coupe, Nissan studied markets into which it could expand its midsize sedan, examining segments such as station wagons before deciding that a coupe was the way to go.

Much of the rationale that precipitated the coupe's development applies also to the idea of a convertible, and with the coupe already in place, most of the heavy lifting has been done. The question now is whether a drop-top Altima will be approved by Nissan's product planners. "Wouldn't that be great?" enthused Sean Blankenship, senior manager of Nissan marketing. "I'd love that."

Just as the company contemplated its options before building the coupe, Nissan is again considering possibilities. "We are studying a number of possible variants," Blankenship acknowledged.

In building the coupe, Nissan sought to give the company and the Altima family a halo car that would enhance consumers' perception of Nissan as a company with sporty products. With a body using entirely unique panels — except the hood, which is shared with the Altima sedan — and riding on a shortened platform, the coupe has the stance and lines of a "true coupe," which was Nissan's goal for the car. With that engineering work already done and the sheet metal created, a convertible is tantalizingly within reach.

In the segment, an Altima convertible would face many of the same competitors it is challenging in the coupe market. In fact, the company attributes the decline of the coupe market to customer fatigue with the aged products in the segment, and not to a decline in interest in coupes.

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2007 Hamann Ferrari F430 Spider

2007 Hamann Ferrari F430 Spider

Specifications:

Engine: 4.3 liter V8
Weight: approximately 3351 lbs
Aspiration: natural
HP :538 hp
HP/Weight: approximately 6.2 lbs per liter
HP/Liter: 125 hp per liter

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Jeep Jumps the Gun on SEMA With Two Concepts

In a bid to grab some SEMA glory well ahead of schedule, Jeep rolled out two of its entries this week for the fall show: the Jeep Wrangler JT and the Jeep Wrangler Ultimate.

The Jeep Wrangler JT, a product of the company's specialty concept design team, is tricked out with a 5-foot pickup bed, a removable hardtop and whopping 35-inch BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tires. Off-road enhancements include a 3-inch suspension lift by Superlift, a Mopar rear bumper and rock rails, and a new Ramsey 9500 UT winch.

The chrome-heavy Jeep Wrangler Ultimate is described by its creators as "the best off-road machine ever offered by Jeep." Chrome touches are bountiful and include the fuel-filler door, taillamp guards, tubular side steps, exterior mirrors, tow hooks, door handles, hood hinges and fascia overlays. The Wrangler Ultimate gets an all-new exterior color: liquid charcoal pearlcoat. The suspension gets a 3-inch lift and 35-inch BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tires mounted on custom 18-inch wheels.

The cabin of the Wrangler Ultimate takes its cues from sports bags and accessories. Materials include orange mesh fabric and dark slate gray napa/Province leather with black leather baseball-style stitching.

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Volkswagen Golf Plus Dune

Summer must be on the way, for the rough-and-tumble faux offroaders are out in force.

Following the Renault Scenic Conquest and the Seat Altea Freetrack to the plastic body panel party is Volkswagen's effort: the Golf Plus Dune.

Yes, it's an ever-so-hardy variant of the Golf Plus, designed to appeal to people who like the countryside but wish it wasn't full of scary things like wasps and nettles.

Ticking the obligatory boxes, the Golf Plus Dune gets a raised ride height, plastic front and rear guards, silver roof rails and something worryingly described as 'durable plastic rubbing strips'. We're not even going to ask.

It's powered by VW's 1.9-litre turbodiesel, which will return a countryside-friendly 50.4mpg while reaching 62mph in a hedgehog-scaring 12.1 seconds.

Priced at £18,495, the Golf Plus Dune is to be strictly limited to a production run of 400 vehicles.

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Where's Our Astra TwinTop?

Saturn is getting a version of the Opel/Vauxhall Astra compact later this year. But one Astra model that won't be making the transatlantic crossing is the Astra TwinTop, a two-door retractable hardtop that's sold only in Europe.

Moreover, a few lucky British customers this summer will be able to buy an even more limited Vauxhall variant: the TwinTop Exclusiv Black.

Priced from $36,990, the Astra TwinTop Exclusiv Black is based on the range-topping Design trim level, adding black leather, heated seats, cruise control and custom 18-inch alloy wheels. Standard features that are carried over include an electronic stability program, piano-black trim, rain-sensitive wipers and automatic headlamps — and, of course, the retractable hardtop, which includes automatic rollover bars.

The limited model comes in either pearlescent Black Sapphire or Power Red and can be ordered with a choice of gasoline or diesel engines.

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2008 Volkswagen Golf GTI Pirelli: More photos

(from Volkswagen Press Release) The New Golf GTI Pirelli - Key Aspects

World premiere at Wurthersee: Comeback of the GTI Pirelli
Traction control: New Pirelli 18-inch wheels and size 225 P-Zero tires
Unique character: Seat and seatback surfaces of sports seats with tire tread design
Sports car engine: Golf GTI Pirelli has 230-PS engine from GTI Edition 30

Wolfsburg, 17 May 2007 - The Golf GTI Pirelli is back; a powerful, fast and very exclusive GTI. Volkswagen is continuing the history of one of the best known limited edition models in Europe. In May 1983, the “Original Pirelli” arrived on the market. It was based on the first generation, second series Golf GTI. A distinctive identifying feature: Specially designed alloy wheels with the “Pirelli P” on their outer edges. A remarkable 10,500 cars of the special model were built and sold within half a year. Then it was over – a limited edition! If there were an Automobile Hall of Fame for young-timers, the “Pirelli GTI”, as it was called by its fans, would have long held a place there.

The legendary tire tracks of the young-timer are now being extended by the new Golf GTI Pirelli. And indeed with completely new Pirelli high-performance tires too. They are wrapped around powerful 18-inch Pirelli wheels in Titanium look. The car’s interior has been upgraded with a partial-leather sports seat system that has an embedded tire tread pattern. Instead of the previous 112 PS the new car converts 230 PS into forward propulsion. If needed, a 245 km/h top speed is within the car’s capabilities. In 6.8 seconds the Turbo-FSI propels the GTI Pirelli to 100 km/h from a standstill.

The Golf GTI Pirelli, conceptualized by Volkswagen Individual, will be presented in a worldwide debut between May 16 and 20. The occasion and site of this premiere are a perfect fit: The international GTI Meeting at Wцrthersee, Austria. Production will begin in September.

Driving performance of the Golf GTI Pirelli.

A look at the numbers gives it away: 169 kW / 230 PS – those are the same performance values as the engine in the Golf GTI Edition 30 that arrived on the market in 2006 on the occasion of the GTI’s monumental birthday. The 200 PS of the “normal” GTI were boosted by one PS for each year since 1976. Now this “jubilee engine” is also powering the Golf GTI Pirelli. The sports car races to the 100 km/h mark in just 6.8 seconds. But it can go even faster: When the GTI Pirelli is ordered with the optional DSG dual clutch transmission, the most powerful GTI of all times breaks through the magic “sound barrier” in 6.6 seconds. The GTI philosophy of agility is accompanied by the efficiency with which this Turbo-FSI goes to work: 8.2 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers, or 7.9 liters with DSG, are evidence of the virtuosity with which Volks­wagen masters the keyboard of engine building.

Tires and wheels of the Golf GTI Pirelli.

“Power is nothing without control”, says Pirelli. Volkswagen sees it this way too. Chassis, brakes and ESP combine for a well-balanced safety package that can even perform masterfully on the North Loop of the Nuremburg Ring track. But things do not really get rounded out until the tires come into play. That is why Pirelli is contributing a new high-performance tire to the project: The latest generation of P-Zero tires. The material mixture and tread pattern of the 225/40 P-Zero were designed to benefit handling, braking, ride comfort and aquaplaning properties.

As in 1983, the tires are wrapped around Pirelli alloy wheels. They are coated with a Titanium-colored paint. The manufacturer interprets the visual effect of the five spokes as an homage to the wheels of the first Pirelli GTI. They had openings in the form of a P for Pirelli on their outer edges. This P is also found in the new wheel design – but in this case it is reflected: In the rim flange. However, there are worlds of difference between the dimensions of the two types of alloy wheels: They are 7.5x18 inch today, but were 6x14 inch back then.

Body of the Golf GTI Pirelli

Bumpers and side skirts painted entirely in car color visually set the Golf GTI Pirelli apart from the 200-PS GTI. Recall that on this classic GTI, introduced at the end of 2004, the spoiler in front, the lower bumper section in the rear, and the skirt between the wheel housings on the sides were in black.

Similar to the GTI Edition 30, a plate with the Pirelli signature on the right side of the tailgate is a reference to this exclusive Golf GTI. In its side profile, the new car has standard tinted rear windows and another Pirelli signature can be seen here on the C-pillar of each side. Designers coordinated the color of the signature to the body paint color. Four of these are offered on the Golf GTI Pirelli. If “Blue graphite” or “Black magic pearl” is selected, the Pirelli signature is in silver. If the GTI – available as a two-door or four-door – is ordered in “Sunflower” or “Reflex silver”, there is a black signature. “Sunflower” – a bright yellow – was created especially for this GTI. So if you look in your rearview mirror this coming fall and see something yellow with a black radiator grille growing larger very quickly, it can only be one thing: The Golf GTI Pirelli.

Interior of the Golf GTI Pirelli.

Just as distinctively as on the GTI Edition 30, the GTI Pirelli stands out from the rest of the model series with its refined interior. Take the example of the sports seating system: The standard GTI seats developed by Volkswagen Individual were upgraded to perfectly customize them for the GTI Pirelli: The anthracite colored lateral supports, seatbacks, head restraints and center armrests are upholstered in leather (“Vienna” type); yellow decorative seams provide a fine visual contrast. But the real highlight is the center seat panels. They are not made of the usual GTI “Interlagos” diamond pattern, rather of a breathable and very luxurious microfiber from the Italian producer Miko (“Dinamica” type): The tire tread pattern is embedded in the microfibers, which also sport the anthracite color. There is yet another accent in the front head restraints. Where the “GTI” letters are usually found, in this car the lettering is “Pirelli” throughout.

“Pirelli” equipment features also include heated seats, electrically adjustable lumbar supports in front, and all-leather center armrest in the rear. Under its counterpart in front, there is a storage bin that may be used optionally to house a CD-changer or MP3 player.

The leather sports steering wheel and parking brake grip have been retooled to match the top sports seats: They also have decorative yellow seams. In addition, the steering wheel with ergonomic hand recesses and perforated leather here support a sporty driving style. The vertical spoke of the steering wheel has a metallic Pirelli emblem as an accent.

Engine of the Golf GTI Pirelli.

It was 25 years ago when Volkswagen first introduced the era of downsizing on its first turbo-diesel. Of course, the Turbo-FSI on the GTI is technically unrelated to a turbo-diesel, but they have the principle of downsizing in common – in both cases engine displacement is replaced by engine charging. Approximately one decade after the first turbo-diesel, the direct-injection TDI followed. This engine extended the principle of downsizing to include the aspect of direct injection. This mix of technologies yielded lower fuel consumption and emissions, and more torque and power. On the Golf GTI, Volkswagen has transferred its 2004 downsizing concept to a powerful gasoline engine for the first time; its use of a turbocharger with intercooler plus direct injection brings fuel economy and sportiness in greater harmony than ever. The proof of this is measurable: The 147 kW / 200 PS and 280 Newton-meter strong Turbo-FSI of the “normal” GTI attains a top speed of 235 km/h and takes 7.2 seconds for the sprint to 100 km/h. Average fuel consumption: Exceptionally low for a sports car at 8.0 liters per 100 kilometers. If the GTI is shifted by DSG, fuel consumption is reduced to 7.9 liters.

The Golf GTI Pirelli is proof today of the potential in combining gasoline direct injection and charging. Its turbocharged direct-injection gasoline engine is currently the most powerful four cylinder engine from Volkswagen. This front-mounted transverse engine is shifted by a standard manual six-speed gearbox. The 16-valve four cylinder with 1,984 cm3 displacement outputs its maximum power of 169 kW / 230 PS at 5,500 rpm. Its maximum torque of 300 Newton-meters is available over a large speed window – from 2,200 to 5,200 rpm. Nothing is more befitting a sports car than this sort of torque characteristic.

And the efficiency of the charged VW direct injection gasoline engine is measurable here too. In spite of an extra 30 PS, 20 Newton-meters and 10 km/h top speed, compared to the 200-PS version the manually shifted Golf GTI Pirelli consumes just 0.2 liters more fuel per 100 kilometers. When shifted by a DSG dual clutch transmission, its fuel consumption is even identical at 7.9 liters per 100 kilometers!

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Morgan Lifecar

The development of green technologies seems to be mirroring the development of the car industry as a whole: the Japanese boldly leading the way; Americans following with a slightly confused look on their faces.

But fear not, Brits, for we're in on the green game too, in our own small and defiantly eccentric manner.

This odd-looking specimen is the Morgan LIFEcar. That's LIFEcar for Lighweight Fuel Efficient car (see what they did there?), the product of a £1.9 million collaboration between Morgan and a range of British companies.

Part-funded by the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI), the LIFECAR is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell built by defence experts QinetiQ.

The advantages of fuel cells are well-known - they're clean, quiet and only emit water - but so are the disadvantages, with critics citing their weight and cost of production.

But Morgan reckons that the fuel cell used in the LIFEcar could change all that. The cells powers four electric motors - one in each wheel - and needs only produce 24kW to power the vehicle, compared to around 85kW from most competitors' vehicles.

This efficiency has been achieved through regeneration of surplus energy and keeping the LIFEcar - which is based on the Aero 8's chassis - as lightweight as possible.

"LIFECar is about catching the first big wave in the energy revolution, which is set to transform the motoring industry in the same way that the computer industry was transformed by the PC decades ago," says Ian Whiting of Qinetiq.

A noble aim indeed, but one which should be taken with a pinch of salt - especially when Charles Morgan describes the LIFEcar as "beautiful".

We'll back loony Britishness to the hilt, Charles, but let's have at least a pinch of realism in here. The LIFEcar looks like a misshapen shoe. Green it may be, but sexy it ain't.

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Chastened Hyundai Chairman Makes Charity Pledge in Bid for Clemency

It has become something of a South Korean tradition for companies and executives to make charitable contributions in a bid for clemency following a conviction. So it was not entirely unexpected that Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Mong-koo on Monday promised a South Korean judge that he still plans to honor his year-old promise to donate $1.1 billion to charity.

Chairman Chung was on the hot seat in court this week as the judge quizzed him about his unfulfilled promise at an appeal hearing yesterday. The embattled executive was sentenced to three years in prison earlier this year for embezzlement and breach of trust. But he has been out on bail as he makes his appeal and continues to run the company.

"I have thought about it and I am glad to be given a chance to serve society," Chung said, according to Reuters.

Chung, who is one of the wealthiest men in South Korea, says he has made a $64 million cash donation to charity. He said he will donate the rest of the reparation gift by 2014 to fund an opera house in Seoul, other cultural facilities and environmental initiatives.

He was arrested in April 2006 on allegations that the automaker and its affiliates set up slush funds to pay for political favors.

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Ronart Lightning car

You may remember Richard Hammond being smitten by a 1950s Grand Prix racer-alike on the programme a while back.

Well, the same people who built that Vanwall replica are also responsible for this: the Ronart Lightning.

Built around a tubular spaceframe, the Lightning has a composite body to keep weight down, with power coming from a Ford Mustang 4.6-litre V8.

This unit produces 300bhp in standard trim, but Ronart also offers upgrades to 440bhp.

There are 18in alloy wheels to transmit the power, brakes from AP Racing and suspension sorted by renowned specialists Harvey Bailey Engineering.

In standard tune, the rear-wheel-drive Lightning is reckoned to be good for 0-60mph in 5.0 seconds and 160mph.

As well as performance, the Lightning serves up a leather 'n' luxury interior for two people and a removable targa roof panel.

Prices for this particular flash of Lightning start at £50,000.

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445-HP Roush Nitemare Menaces Main Street

Perhaps the scariest bit of information about the new 2007 Roush Nitemare F-150 is that the Ford tuner only plans to make 100 units of the customized pickup truck. The Roush Nitemare will make its debut at Roush-authorized Ford dealers in June, starting at $41,750.

A ROUSHcharger boosts the 5.4-liter engine to 445 horses and 500 pound-feet of torque. Other performance components include intake manifolds, intercooler, radiator and an air induction system. The Nitemare gets a Ford limited-slip 3.73 rear axle, while the electronically controlled speed limiter has been increased to 105 mph.

On the outside, the Nitemare uses a Roush front chin spoiler and black aluminum billet grille. The cabin is decked out in custom leather seats, billet aluminum pedals and an instrument cluster with red lighting. Options include a rear wing, hood scoop, locking lug nuts and GPS. An optional sport suspension system lowers the truck 2 inches in the front and 3 inches in the rear.

The trim level is limited to a regular cab 4x2 Styleside model. As you might expect, each truck gets a serial number badge.

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Seat Altea Freetrack

Seat is joining the lifestyle SUV parade with a jacked-up Altea XL, which will be called the Freetrack.

Due to be unveiled at the Barcelona motor show in June, the Freetrack has a 40mm raised ride height, 17in alloy wheels, rufty-tufty plastic panels for the off-road look and four-wheel drive.

The four-wheel drive is a part-time system that only sends power to the rear wheels when the fronts begin to slip.

Powering things are either a 197bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine or a 2.0-litre turbodiesel with 167bhp.

The petrol-engined Freetrack is good for 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds and 133mph, while the diesel is no slouch at 0-62mph in 8.7 seconds and 127mph. The diesel returns 41.5mpg and the petrol 30mpg.

There will be just one trim level for the five-seat Freetrack. This will include a DVD player for the kids to watch in the rear seats.

Also included will be climate control, cruise control, parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, rear door blinds and six airbags.

Prices will be announced closer to the Altea Freetrack going on sale in the UK in September.

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NYC Hybrid Taxi: Ford Escape Hybrid

NEW YORK CITY — The Ford Escape Hybrid taxi is no longer an uncommon site in this haven for the taxicab. The city now has 288 of the alt-fuel vehicles, Ford says. This fits nicely with Mayor Michael Bloomberg's announcement this week that the city is targeting an all-hybrid taxicab fleet by 2012.

The mayor said all vehicles used as taxicabs will have to meet stronger emissions and fuel-economy standards by next year. From the 375 hybrids on taxi duty right now, the number is to rise to 1,000 by October 2008.

Ford says both its Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid meet the new, more stringent standards. The automaker calls the Escape Hybrid Taxi "the most fuel-efficient SUV on Earth" with a city-driving fuel usage of 34 mpg for the front-wheel-drive model and a 500-mile cruising range.

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Kicherer Modifies Mercedes SL Into K60 Evo Black

Kicherer, the Mercedes tuning specialist, has an updated edition of its SL conversion, the K60 Evo Black.

The K60 package starts with a twin-turbo 5.5-liter V12 upgraded to 605 horsepower. Kicherer claims 0-60-mph acceleration is trimmed to less than 4.3 seconds; the K60 can rocket to 125 mph in just over 14 seconds. Top speed is electronically governed to 186 mph.

Under-the-skin modifications include tweaks to the body control and suspension settings, and a ride height that has been lowered by 1 inch, as well as high-performance brakes with drilled discs and a sport exhaust system.

The 20-inch Kicherer RS-1 alloy wheels are shod with Z-rated Continentals: 255/30 in front and 305/25 in the rear.

An aero body kit consists of a front apron with a large central air intake and a new rear diffuser and deck lid. Carbon trim pieces are available to dress up the cabin.

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Koenigsegg

Koenigsegg has only produced 45 cars in its entire history, but it's already getting tricky to keep tabs on the different models coming out of the Swedish supercar manufacturer's doors.

We've had the CC8S, the CCR, the CCGT and the CCX - no, not a clue - and now there's this: the CCXR. But you won't be forgetting about this one in a hurry.

Because the CCXR is the first Koeniggsegg - hell, the first supercar runs on E85 bioethanol, a mix of 15 per cent petrol and 85 per cent of what is, essentially, pure alcohol.

The theory behind bioethanol is straightforward enough: whatever crop you choose to distil your moonshine from will have absorbed at least as much CO² while it grows as it releases when it's burnt.

Factor in the energy to convert the crop to bioethanol, accept that bioethanol cars have about a 25 per cent greater thirst, and the upshot is that a car running on E85 will have a 50 per cent smaller carbon footprint than an equivalent car running on petrol alone.

And, in good news for a car that'll set you back a snip over 600 grand, bioethanol gives out even more power. The Koenigsegg CCXR develops 1,004bhp. The Veyron puts out 986bhp. So, halved carbon footprint and all, the CCXR is the world's most powerful production car.

On the road, that means a 0-62mph time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed on the scary side of 250mph. Clearly the CCXR is a car that requires a superhuman test pilot. A other-worldly blend of racing driver and bioethanol-glugging loon. In other words, the Stig.

Yes, we sent our barely tamed test driver to Sweden to wrestle with the CCXR. To find out what happened, you'll need to buy this month's issue of Top Gear magazine.

In the meantime, though, read what a crash in the world's greenest supercar feels like.

And, just before you laugh off the CCXR as a cynical cash-in on the big green problem, consider this.

Because Koenigsegg is free from the rigours of production cycles and corporate accountability and influence of the oil lobby, its tiny bunch of alternative fuel pioneers are more able to experiment and progress with green technologies than most other car manufacturers.

No, the CCXR isn't going to create any fresh ice caps or rehouse stranded polar bears, but at least it proves how far eco-technology can be pushed.

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JE Design Seat Cupra

Volkswagen's Spanish subsidiary Seat has all sorts of cool hardware that isn't sold on this side of the Atlantic. One of our favorites, the Golf-based Leon Cupra, is the latest subject of German tuner JE Design.

Under the hood, JE Design starts with VW's 2.0-liter T-FSI four-cylinder engine, boosting output on the turbocharged direct-injection gasoline unit from 240 to 285 horsepower, with torque climbing from 221 to 284 pound-feet. The improvement is due largely to modifications to the electronic engine management system. Top speed rises from 153 to 162 mph, while 0-60-mph acceleration is trimmed from about 6.4 seconds to less than 5.9 seconds.

JE Design also took a slightly different approach with the standard aero body kit, developing a special "downforce insert" for the center of the front apron, as well as a diffuser insert in the rear apron. The tuner also adds a new grille, headlamp covers, side sills and rear wing, as well as a matte black roof fin.

Additional dress-up pieces include quad tailpipes and multispoke "chrome look" alloy wheels in 18- and 19-inch sizes.

Other enhancements include a stainless-steel sport exhaust system and a replacement spring set that lowers ride height by up to 2.6 inches.

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Mastretta MXT

Much of Mexico's national cuisine appears to be the same stuff wrapped in different ways. Take burritos, tortillas and enchiladas: all much the same, but still exciting food.

Now, Mexico has applied its culinary ideas to the car and come up with the Mastretta MXT.

There's no doubting this mid-engined coupe looks good enough to eat, but underneath is wrapped a 2.3-litre Toyota Camry engine.

Amazing that one of the world's dullest cars can donate an essential ingredient to such a tempting machine as the MXT.

With 200bhp and an all-up weight of 1,000kg thanks to an aluminium base and plastic body panels, the MXT should be good for 0-60mph in 6.0 seconds and a top speed of 144mph.

Production is due to start in early 2008, but this will be a sports car made in haute cuisine numbers, because Mastretta says it will only produce 150 MXTs per year for sale in Mexico.

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The Diesel-Hybrid Bandwagon Builds

In the ongoing search for the optimal combination of low emissions and high fuel economy, more automakers are looking toward diesel-electric hybrid powertrains as a potential solution. The latest to test diesel-hybrid systems are Mercedes-Benz and the U.S. Army.

The problem with diesel-electric hybrids is one of cost, particularly with ever-tighter emissions standards requiring the use of more expensive exhaust-control technology on diesels, which generally emit more pollutants than gasoline engines.

But since diesels generally are more efficient and provide better fuel economy, automakers and suppliers continue to push technology frontiers in an effort to bring the hardware costs down.

Mercedes-Benz said it will unveil a diesel-electric hybrid prototype of its Citaro articulated city bus later year. With the diesel engine acting as a generator to charge the roof-mounted lithium-ion batteries, the prototype bus runs in pure electric mode and has the potential to offer fuel-economy gains of as much as 30 percent. The company expects production to begin in 2009.

In the U.S., supplier Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide said it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army to develop a diesel-electric hybrid version of its Aggressor alternative mobility vehicle (AMV).

The diesel-hybrid version follows the original fuel-cell hybrid Aggressor that was developed for the U.S. Army's Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), National Automotive Center (NAC).

The diesel-electric AMV is intended to be a second-generation high-performance light-duty off-road vehicle for the Army. Quantum will develop and build pre-production prototypes for testing by various Army units. Targets include high-performance acceleration, extended range and exportable power. The Army said the AMV could be suitable for a variety of commercial uses, including homeland security, border patrol and park service operations.

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Chery Town

Chery Automobile is planning to create a network of retail outlets called Chery Town in more than 20 major Chinese cities over the next two years.

According to the Shanghai Daily newspaper, the automaker wants to focus more attention on after-sales service as a way to retain current customers and attract new prospects, especially first-time buyers, in China's fiercely competitive car market.

Chery Town outlets will be megadealers who will provide a broad portfolio of products and services, including sales, service, parts, insurance and even financing.

The first two Chery Town stores already have opened in Beijing and Shanghai, with others to follow in Harbin, Tianjin, Nanjing, Changsha, Suzhou and Urumqi.

Chery last week priced two new models: the A1 compact, which will start at $7,020, and the revamped Tiggo 3 utility vehicle, starting at $12,500.

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Volkswagen Golf GTi Pirelli

Volkswagen is going the whole 1980s retro hog with the revitalisation of its Golf GTi.

Now that it has found hot-hatch form once again, VW is introducing a modern version of another 1980s favourite, the Golf GTi Pirelli.

Slapping a set of Pirelli tyres and different wheels on the latest version was not enough, so there are titanium-effect 18in wheels with unique Pirelli P Zero tyres.

There are some tiny Pirelli logos on the seat fabric, the steering wheel and selected other parts of the cabin. Go for leather seats and you get a tyre-tread pattern embossed into the seats.

The GTi Pirelli gets the 227bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine from the Edition 30 model, too.

That makes for 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds for the manual gearbox models and 6.6 seconds for the DSG version. Top speed is 152mph for both.

It all sounds quite appealing in a 1980s retro sort of fashion, but UK buyers will not have the chance to find out because the Golf GTi Pirelli won't be sold here.

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2009 Dodge Ram: Spy Photos

Ever-vigilant spy photographers snapped these first photos of the 2009 Dodge Ram prototype in a public parking lot while it was out testing.

The next-generation Ram goes on sale in late 2008, and even with its heavily camouflaged front end, it's easy to make out the full-size truck's new aerodynamic design. Dodge's signature crosshair grille still signals the Ram's arrival, but a broad, flat hood replaces the current Ram's curved haunches.

Although technical specifications have not yet been released, expect to see the Ram make use of Chrysler's latest V6 and V8 engines. The Dodge Grand Caravan's 4.0-liter V6 is the likely choice for the base Ram engine, as it provides more torque than the current 3.7-liter V6. An upgrade to the twin-plug 4.7-liter V8 may occur as early as this year, as production of the revised engine is already scheduled for the 2008 Dodge Dakota. An upgrade for the top-of-the-line 5.7-liter Hemi V8 is likely too, although it's already one of the more powerful engines in its class.

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2008 Ford Taurus X Prices

The Ford Motor Co. confirmed on Tuesday that its 2008 Taurus X, which replaces the Ford Freestyle, will start at $27,365, including a $750 destination charge. The base Taurus X SEL costs $695 more than the outgoing base 2007 Freestyle SEL. The Taurus X will be in showrooms in late summer.

The Taurus X gets a new 3.5-liter V6 that makes 263 horsepower, 60 more than the Freestyle's 203-hp 3.0-liter V6. The automaker has added an Eddie Bauer Series trim level to the Taurus X. The front-wheel-drive version of that midrange trim level will start at $29,720, including shipping. The all-wheel-drive Eddie Bauer edition will start at $31,570. A top-of-the-line Taurus X Limited with all-wheel drive starts at $32,550, including shipping.

Ford said new options on the Taurus X include $240 heated seats, a $475 power liftgate, $695 18-inch chrome-clad wheels, a $195 wood package for the Limited and $995 for a new-generation DVD entertainment system.

A six-speed automatic transmission replaces the Freestyle's continuously variable transmission that is going out of production. The Taurus X also gets a revamped face with Ford's signature three-bar grille that is on such vehicles as the Ford Edge, and a cabin makeover.

At the insistence of Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally, the automaker has resurrected the Taurus nameplate in order to capitalize on what it sees as its positive image.

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Thommo reigns in Spain

It was a great day for James Thompson and the N. Technology Alfa Romeo squad on Sunday.

The British driver, and former BTCC champ, scored a brilliant double victory in the third round of the WTCC in Valencia.

Thommo started on pole in race one, and while the rest of the field were crashing into each other at turn one, the Brit put in a series of blinding laps to edge out a lead he would never lose.

Nicola Larini's increasingly fast 07-spec Chevrolet Lacetti finished second, with the Seats of Muller and Gene finishing third and fourth. Nobbled by a weight penalty, Priaulx's BMW finished fifth.

In race two, James Thompson was even more impressive. With the top eight grid positions reversed, Thompson had his work cut out to take victory.

However, by lap three the British driver was beginning to scythe through the pack. He overtook Muller and Gene's Seats with clean moves (rare these days in WTCC) and soon homed in on the leading BMWs.

The Beemers of Priaulx, Jorg Muller and Rangoni were locked in an intense battle, but Thompson got the better of all of them to take a fantastic win.

Muller took second in a BMW, with Priaulx third. It was by far the best WTCC race of the season so far.

And when you consider that Thommo's Alfa is a two-year-old car with no manufacturer support, this was one hell of a double victory.

Nick Trott

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Renault in Russia

MOSCOW — French automaker Renault has a hit on its hands in Russia, with its Logan world car.

In fact, the affordable compact is so popular that Renault is planning to hike production capacity here from 60,000 to 160,000 units a year. The auto company just signed a new framework agreement with the city of Moscow, its partner in the Avtoframos joint venture that builds the Logan.

The deal will add 1,000 jobs to the Moscow plant over the next 18 months. Renault also plans to add new versions of the Logan by 2009, when it expects to boost annual sales in Russia to 100,000 units.

Renault continues to hold discussions with another Russian automaker, Avtovaz, about a possible joint venture in Togliattigrad.

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Toyota Prius: Next-Generation

Toyota's top-selling hybrid sedan is headed for a redesign next year. The popular Prius four-door is expected to once again differentiate itself with unique styling and class-leading mileage.

Although our spy photo shows an evolutionary shape, it doesn't represent the final design. It was one of three designs Toyota was considering, but we've heard the final decision went to a more conservatively styled Prius more along the lines of the Hybrid X shown in Geneva this year.

Toyota officials have said recently that they hope to bring down the cost premium of hybrids while continuing to improve their efficiency. With new less-hybrid-friendly EPA testing procedures, the 2009 Prius may not show huge gains in its stated fuel economy figures, but its real-world numbers should improve beyond the current 40-45mpg range.

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Hamann Ferrari F430 Black Miracle

Hamann calls its latest edition of the Ferrari F430 the Black Miracle.
The German tuning house has designed a unique process that covers much of the car body in matte-black foil, which Hamann says can be removed "when the color doesn't seem pleasing anymore." For a stark contrast, the aero body pieces — front spoiler, side skirts, rear wing and diffuser — can be finished in brilliant orange, red or yellow. Mirrors, wheels and brake calipers can be finished in the same color.

To further enhance the look, Hamann offers dark tinted windows, tinted rear lights, a colored engine cover and two-tone leather upholstery.

Of course, no Hamann model would be complete without the tuner's signature wing doors.

Under the unusual skin, Hamann has breathed a bit more performance into the car's DOHC 4.3-liter V8, lifting output from 490 to 540 horsepower through recalibrated engine electronics and the adaptation of a stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system.

A new set of springs helps lower the suspension. Hamann provides its Edition Race with three-piece forged alloy wheels in a 20-inch size.

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2007 Holden Ute SVZ

(from Holden Press Release) Holden has released special edition Commodore SVZ Ute and Wagon models offering key extra features and outstanding value for money.

Available now, SVZ Ute offers a six-speed manual transmission from $29,990 and a five-speed automatic from $30,990.

SVZ Ute is powered by the High Output Alloytec V6 engine which produces peak power of 190kW at 6500rpm (automatic transmission) and peak power of 187kW at 6000rpm (manual transmission) and 335Nm of peak torque at 3200rpm.

Both offers are limited to private buyers only.

Commodore SVZ Ute Specification

Additional content over SV6 Ute:

18-inch alloy wheels with full size alloy spare (CV8-R)
Performance brake package with red painted brake callipers (Holden logo on front brakes)
Onyx leather seats and door trim with SVZ embroided logo on seat face
SVZ exterior badging

Colours: (metallic paint $400 extra)

Heron White
Redhot
Nickel metallic
Impulse metallic
Ignition metallic
Phantom metallic

The new “Morpheous” metallic colour available on VE Commodore sports models is also available with the special edition SVZ Ute.

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BMW X3 and X6 in South Carolina

BMW is planning to increase production capacity to more than 200,000 vehicles a year at its manufacturing facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina. As part of that plan, the automaker will build the forthcoming all-new X6 and the next-generation X3 at the U.S. plant. The current X3 is built in Austria in a Magna Steyr plant.

The facility currently has a capacity of 140,000 and builds Z4 and X5 vehicles. Production on both models will increase, the company said. BMW Chief Executive Norbert Reithofer called this a way of cutting currency exchange risk at a time when the euro is surging in value and the dollar is weakening.

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2007 Brabus SV12 S Biturbo Coupe based on Mercedes-Benz CL 600

(from Brabus Press Release) 730 hp / 537 kW of power, 1,320 Nm of torque and a top speed of 340 km/h: With the BRABUS SV12 S Biturbo coupe based on the latest Mercedes CL 600 model BRABUS presents the world’s fastest and most powerful coupe.

At the heart of this exclusive automobile is the BRABUS SV12 S Biturbo engine. It is based on the turbocharged Mercedes 600 twelve-cylinder engine and represents the most powerful street-legal V12 engine in the world. Installing a special BRABUS crankshaft with longer stroke, combined with a bigger bore and correspondingly sized forged pistons, increases displacement from 5.5 to 6.3 liters. Further engine modifications also include precision-machining the cylinder heads and fitting them with four special camshafts.

In addition the engine peripherals are also modified extensively. The modifications include special exhaust manifolds, two larger turbochargers, a high-efficiency intercooler and a high-performance exhaust system with metal catalysts and low back pressure. Extensive bench tests determined the new programming for the engine electronics that not only maximizes power yield but also ensures that the engine meets stringent Euro IV emission limits.

Performance figures of the BRABUS SV12 S Biturbo displacement engine speak volumes: A rated power output of 730 hp / 537 kW at 5,100 rpm is just as extraordinary as a peak torque of 1,320 Nm at just 2,100 rpm. In the car peak torque is limited electronically to 1,100 Nm.

Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a modified five-speed automatic transmission. The optionally available BRABUS locking differential optimizes traction. All BRABUS drivetrain elements are operated with ARAL high-performance lubricants.

The BRABUS S V12 S Biturbo coupe is not just the most powerful; it is also the fastest street-legal of its kind. 0 – 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds, 200 km/h after just 11.9 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 340 km/h are all without equal.

The enormous performance of the BRABUS SV12 S Biturbo coupe places exceptionally high demands on the aerodynamic-enhancement parts that were developed in the wind tunnel. The sophisticated shape of the BRABUS front apron reduces lift on the front axle and improves engine and front brake cooling due to its large air inlet. Integrated fog lamps and high beams lend the car a characteristic appearance and further improve active safety by optimizing illumination of the road.

The BRABUS rocker panels optimize the airflow along the sides and feature integrated entrance lights for safe entering and exiting of the vehicle in the dark.

The BRABUS rear apron sports custom-tailored cutouts for the BRABUS quad sport exhaust. Three LED lights integrated into the apron are also activated via the keyless fob. An understated rear spoiler rounds out the sophisticated BRABUS aerodynamics concept, and reduces lift on the rear axle for further improved directional stability at high speeds.

The enormous performance of the BRABUS SV12 S Biturbo coupe is kept safely in check at all times thanks to custom-tailored solutions for tires, suspension and brakes. Among them are BRABUS Monoblock light-alloy wheels with diameters of 18, 19, 20 or 21 inches. The largest tire/wheel combination features BRABUS Monoblock VI and E wheels in sizes 9Jx21 in front and 10.5Jx21 on the rear axle. The largest corresponding tires are size 265/30 ZR 21 in front and size 295/30 ZR 21 in the rear. BRABUS recommends Pirelli and YOKOHAMA high-performance tires.

The BRABUS module for the standard ABC suspension is specifically calibrated to these high-performance tires, and lowers the ride height of the two-door by some 25 millimeters. For further optimized active safety the BRABUS SV12 S Biturbo coupe can be equipped with the BRABUS high-performance brake system. Maximum fade-free stopping power is provided on the front axle by 380 x 36 millimeter discs and 12-piston aluminum fixed calipers. The rear features 355 x 28 millimeter discs and six-piston aluminum fixed calipers.

BRABUS also fulfills any requests imaginable when it comes to exclusive interior options. The list of products ranges from scuff plates with illuminated BRABUS logo or an ergonomically shaped sport steering wheel to an exclusive customized interior crafted from soft yet durable BRABUS Mastik leather and the finest Alcantara.

The BRABUS SV12 S Biturbo coupe can be ordered as a complete car starting at 178,980 Euros or can be built based on an existing current CL 600 model.

For additional BRABUS information please visit our web site at www.brabus.com

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Ford's Funkmaster Flex Launches Flex Expedition and Car Wars TV Competition

Funkmaster Flex, the musical star who has been Ford's link to the hip-hop aesthetic, visited the automaker's Michigan Truck Plant this week, production site of the Flex Expedition that is named for him. The special-edition SUV was unveiled at the New York auto show last month.

Funkmaster Flex's Car Wars TV series starts its new season on Sunday on ESPN2. It will be sponsored by Ford and will feature a 2008 Lincoln Navigator to be modified by four groups of contestants with a $50,000 prize at stake.

The 2008 Flex Expedition, which goes on sale in the fall, has a 3d Carbon body kit, a custom interior and a bold two-tone paint job.

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Perodua Viva City Car

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Perodua, local partner of Japanese minicar specialist Daihatsu, has introduced the new Viva city car based on the latest Daihatsu Mira.

Perodua produces a wide range of minicars rooted in Daihatsu models. Cheapest is the 12-year-old Kancil that is related to the third-generation Daihatsu Mira. The Viva, on the other hand, is based on the latest, sixth-generation variant. Its styling has been updated, so it is in line with Perodua's Myvi, the company's first self-developed model. The Kancil is staying in production because demand is still strong.

The Viva is priced from $8,300 to $13,000, depending on engine and equipment. Power comes from three different variants of a three-cylinder engine: 660cc, 850cc, and 1.0-liter. The largest engine is equipped with variable valve timing and electronic fuel injection.

At the launch ceremony, Perodua officials said they are targeting 6,000-7,000 units a month, which is about 5 percent of the company's yearly sales target of 161,000 vehicles.

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Japan: "Trendy Minivan" Is No Oxymoron With Nissan Lafesta

Nissan's Lafesta minivan is only 3 years old, but the automaker knows it has to stay edgy to remain competitive in the very crowded Japanese minivan sector.

The Japan-market-only Lafesta is a seven-seat minivan with two sliding doors and a huge glass roof. It is only available with one engine option, a four-cylinder 2.0-liter gasoline unit. It is positioned between the smaller Note and the more luxurious Presage.

Modifications include chunky new headlights and revised bumpers and grille. Inside, the seats and dashboard instrumentation have been revamped.

The Lafesta Highway Star edition features HDD-based Carwings satellite navigation, a blue metallic-ringed instrument cluster and an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission.

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2008 Nissan Pathfinder Gets Optional V8

Nissan North America has announced pricing and specifications on its 2008 Pathfinder, which went on sale this week. For the first time, the Pathfinder gets a V8, the Endurance 5.6-liter unit that is also found in Nissan's Titan pickup and Armada SUV. The standard 4.0-liter V6 continues.
The V8 makes 310 horsepower and 388 pound-feet of torque which, according to Nissan, makes it is "the most powerful V8 in its class." Maximum towing capacity with the big power plant is 7,000 pounds, 1,000 more than the V6 version of the Pathfinder.

Pricing on the 2008 Pathfinder ranges from $25,700 for the 4x2 with V6 to $32,850 for the 4x4 SE with the V8. The Pathfinder SE Off Road, available only with four-wheel drive and a V6 engine, is priced at $33,900.

Among the other attributes of the '08 Pathfinder are a rearview monitor system, Intelligent Key and a Bluetooth hands-free phone system. The SUV is also restyled inside and out, with new front and rear fascias and a restyled grille, a new instrument panel and the all-important revised cupholder design.

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2007 Porsche 911 GT3 Photos

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Abt Sportsline: VW Touareg tuning

Abt Sportsline, the German tuning house that has had much success in reshaping products in the Volkswagen Group portfolio, now applies its expertise to the VW Touareg, with impressive results.

Working with the updated 2007 Touareg, Abt tweaks several of the engine offerings. The 5.0-liter V10 TDI that powers the Abt VS10 is hiked to 360 horsepower, while the 4.2-liter gasoline V8 in the Abt VS8-R jumps to 500 hp.

The tuner also has upgraded the suspension system and brakes. Abt Level Control (ALC) is offered with the optional air suspension. Customers can order Abt AR wheels in sizes up to 22 inches.

A full aero body kit for the Touareg bundles front spoiler lip, side skirts, fender extensions, rear skirts, rear wing and a quad-pipe exhaust system. The effect is a lower, wider look for the massive off-roader.

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Spy photos of the 2008 Honda Accord Sedan

Spy photos of the 2008 Honda Accord continue to trickle in, and it's become increasing clear that the sedate Accord sedan does not closely follow the new Accord coupe's energetic design direction.

Few technical details of the future Accord have been released. Honda previously admitted to the addition of a more powerful, lower-emissions V6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management, plus significant safety advances, but little else has been confirmed.

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Carzone Grande Punto Shogun

Carzone Specials earned its reputation as a mild tuner of midprice European sedans and hot hatches ranging from the Ford Fiesta to the Suzuki Swift. Its latest aero body kit, called Shogun, is designed for the Grande Punto, the car that is widely credited with helping to reverse Fiat's sagging fortunes in Italy.

The Shogun package bundles replacement front and rear bumpers on three- and five-door models, and adds side skirts to the three-door.

The tuner also offers a KW coil-over suspension kit that can lower ride height by 2-3 inches. Wheels are available in sizes up to 19 inches.

Carzone also has a new edition of the Opel Astra, dubbed the Eclipse, and will soon come to market with its Audi A4 Blitz.

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Mitsubishi Colt Black Hawk

Mitsubishi's British importer has a brilliant idea: Boost sales of the automaker's stylish but fairly mundane Colt compact with the edition of a new Black Hawk dress-up kit.

Available on the base and CZT trim levels of the three-door Colt, the Black Hawk package includes black exterior paint with silver accent stripes, plus tinted glass.

The standard Colt Black Hawk features a frugal 1.1-liter DOHC three-cylinder engine that returns 50 miles per gallon. It rides on 16-inch alloy wheels shod with low-profile 205/45R16 tires. Prices start at $15,800, with only 400 cars available.

The one to watch is the Colt CTZ Black Hawk, which steps up to a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder that zips from zero to 60 mph in less than 7.2 seconds. The CZT gets 17-inch wheels and tires and such additional goodies as sport seats, rear spoiler, foglamps, four-wheel disc brakes and premium audio.

Only 200 Colt CZT Black Hawk models will be offered in the U.K., priced at the equivalent of $25,710.

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2007 Tribun Concept Design by Stefan Schulze

(from Stefan Schulze) This is a Vector W8 Redesign. I called it Tribun as tribute to the original W8. My point of view was a 2007 W8, so it looks like an actual design. The engine could be the Audi Q7 V8 Tdi or the next coming V12 Tdi. I think it is a very interesting idea and I am interested in knowing how fast it could be.

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Triketec X2 Arrow

Triketec is a relatively new trike brand in Germany, making luxurious three-wheeler motorcycles since 2001. This latest offering, the X2 Arrow, is a crossover — but not in the usual sense.

Take some bits from a rundown Smart roadster, add a safety cage and some motorcycle bits at the front, and voilà! Basically, that's what the German Triketec company has done. The prototype of the X2 Arrow was shown at a local motorcycle show last year, and the positive reaction prompted the company to offer a production version.The first X2 Arrow features a three-cylinder, 82-horsepower turbocharged engine from the Smart Roadster, but there are cheaper variants with a 61-hp non-turbo engine or even a 41-hp diesel. Other Smart bits include the complete rear and the steering wheel. The two-seater X2 Arrow has a luggage compartment of 14.1 cubic feet, letting drivers consider adding a longer road trip on the to-do list.The highly visible cage is one important safety feature; electronic aids including ABS and brake assist are also on offer.Prices start at the equivalent of $37,800.

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Chery QQ6

Chinese carmaker Chery, which is on an ambitious growth path both at home and abroad, has teamed up with U.S. finance company Quantum to set up a new production facility here in the carmaker's home city. Production will start in about 2009.

The $734-million investment will let Chery put new models into production sooner than had been expected. Chery just introduced its new A6 and an updated version of its Tiggo SUV at Auto Shanghai last month. Quantum LLC is a subsidiary of an Israeli holding company, the Israel Group, which has interests in chemicals, shipping, oil and energy.

Chery plans to produce 105,000 luxury sedans and 45,000 SUVs per year, mostly intended for European and North American export markets. With the new plant, Chery's total capacity will reach 500,000 units a year.

The plan is still subject to Chinese government approval, but it could be another major step for Chery to become an international force to be reckoned with. It set up an engine-supply partnership with Fiat that may be extended to other areas. Another venture with Iran Khodro, Iran's biggest carmaker, will eventually see local production of more than 60,000 Chery cars.

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2008 Ford Mustang WIP Edition

(from Ford Press Release) Ford revs up its 2007 Warriors in Pink campaign in support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure by announcing today a very special addition – the new 2008 Mustang with Warriors in Pink package. Produced in a limited edition of 2,500 units, the Mustang with Warriors in Pink package is the first-ever Ford vehicle designed exclusively in support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Embarking on its 13 th year of support of Komen for the Cure, Ford has dedicated more than $90 million in cash and in-kind donations to save lives and end breast cancer.

Launched in 2006, the Ford Warriors in Pink campaign recognizes the strength and courage it takes to deal with the everyday challenges of fighting breast cancer. The Warriors in Pink collection of apparel for men and women feature important symbols signifying the message of hope, strength and unity in the commitment to the fight against breast cancer. Three new Warrior symbols debut this year, representing the Warrior spirit in each one of us, from power and courage to strength and compassion. These new symbols will be found on additional apparel items available for men, women and children. All apparel is available on Fordcares.com and 100 percent of net proceeds will be donated to Komen for the Cure. More than $1 million of merchandise was sold in 2006.

“Ford has been a long-standing supporter of Komen for the Cure and this year we’ve designed a special product to help raise awareness and find a cure for breast cancer,” said Connie Fontaine, Ford Customer Experience Manager. “For the 2007 campaign, Ford truly breaks the mold by creating the first-ever Ford 2008 Mustang with Warriors in Pink package to support Komen for the Cure. With the addition of the new Mustang to Ford’s already powerful line of Warriors in Pink gear available at Fordcares.com, we plan to have yet another successful year as we provide our support in the fight against breast cancer.”

The limited-edition 2008 Mustang with Warriors in Pink package is currently available for consumers to pre-order through their local Ford dealer. The Mustangs, fueled by the Warrior spirit, will be delivered to dealerships mid-summer. Sales from the Warriors in Pink package will help raise funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Ford's goal is to donate more than half a million dollars through these sales in addition to other fundraising efforts.

Available on V-6 Premium Array Coupe or Convertible models, the Mustang with Warriors in Pink package will add a pink ribbon and Pony fender badge, pink Mustang rocker tape striping, charcoal leather seats with pink stitching, aluminum-spoke steering wheel with pink stitching and charcoal floormats with pink ribbon and contrast stitching. The Mustang with Warriors in Pink package, which includes the Mustang Pony package, will be available in three colors to please the spirits of all Warriors: black, metallic silver and performance white.

Mustang is one of the greatest automotive sales success stories of all time. Nearly one out of every two sports cars sold in America is a Mustang, and Mustang remains one of the hottest-selling cars in America. It’s also America’s best-selling convertible.

© Source: seriouswheels

AmericanMuscle will soon be stocking 2010 Ford Mustang Parts

Toyota Tundra Buyers Prefer Bigger V8

While early reports suggested that sales of the Toyota Tundra were lagging, the truck is not only gaining sales momentum, but those sales are skewing heavily in favor of the optional 5.7-liter V8 engine, reported Bob Carter, general manager of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.

Despite an environment where $3 gas is common and $4 gas is seen in Toyota regional strongholds like California and the Northeast, customers are choosing the bigger 5.7-liter engine over the truck's base V6 and optional 4.7-liter V8 engines, he said.

"All of the orders are for the 5.7-liter," Carter said. Toyota underestimated demand for the biggest available engine, which now represents 70 percent of Tundra production. The 5.7-liter engine is $950 more expensive than the 4.7-liter engine, and adds a $1,760 premium over the base V6 engine. Carter, who recently took over Toyota after heading Lexus in recent years, said that he replaced an LS 460 with a Tundra CrewMax as part of the switch. He said he loves the truck, but after getting accustomed to the LS's self-park feature, he's "having to learn how to drive again."

Carter attended a meeting with dealers in Kansas City this week, who reported strong turnout at local events designed to introduce the Tundra to Midwestern customers. In contrast to events where consumers avoid dealer representatives in an effort to check out the new hardware in peace, these shoppers were actually filling out information cards and seeking out dealer reps, Carter said.

The 5.7-liter engine provides a muscular 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque, which is a noticeable upgrade in performance and hauling capability from the 4.7's 271 hp and 313 lb-ft and the V6's 236 hp and 266 lb-ft.

EPA gas mileage is slightly worse than for the 4.7-liter V8 in 4x4 configuration, at 14 mpg city and 18 mpg highway, compared to 15/17 for the four-wheel-drive 5.7. But in 4x2 configuration, the 5.7's mileage rating rises to 16/20, while the 4.7's mileage is unchanged. Further, the V6's highway mileage rating is the same as the 2WD 5.7's, and the six-cylinder only beats the 5.7 by 1 mpg in city driving, with a 17 mpg rating.

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Lexus LS Hybrid Rolls Out in Japan

Toyota rolled out its Lexus LS 600h L hybrid luxury sedan in its home market of Japan this week, with a selling price of 15 million yen, or about $124,000. The company expects to sell 7,000 worldwide, including 4,000 in Japan, this year.

Exports start next month, the company said. The LS 600h L will have a $104,000 MSRP when it hit U.S. dealers this summer.

The Lexus LS 600h L has a 5.0-liter engine paired with a high-output electric motor, which the company says is the world's first full-hybrid V8 powertrain. It also offers full-time all-wheel drive, a host of luxury appointments and safety equipment — and a 28.7-mpg fuel economy average.

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Modified Audi R8 Caught Lapping the Nurburgring

With the standard Audi R8 headed for dealers, work has already started on what could be an even more powerful version of Audi's flagship sports car. Caught on the Nürburgring test track in Germany, this prototype shows several signs of tinkering by Audi's in-house tuning group.

Unlike the standard R8, this prototype's side blades have a slight bulge just ahead of the rear wheel. These larger air inlets suggest a more potent power plant may be nestled behind the seats. Audi's 5.2-liter V10 is the most likely engine, as it's already used in the S6 sedan. With only 435 horsepower, however, Audi's engineers are going to need to find a few extra horses to separate this R8 from the standard 420-hp model. Revised rocker panels are another sign of the prototype's tweaks, although the wheels and tires appear to be standard R8 spec.

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Audi TT Clubsport

For all its many virtues, Audi doesn't very often hit Top Gear's cool button. The products of Ingolstadt's finest are just too serious, too damn determined to reach to the icicle-encrusted end of the Cool Wall.

The TT Clubsport, however, is cool enough to cause frostbite.

A design study by Audi for the Worthersee 2007 meet in Austria, it's what you'd get if you crossed a new TT with a Porsche Speedster, and injected a healthy dose of testosterone for good measure.

At the moment it's nothing more than a concept, but rumours abound that Audi is considering introducing a more extreme TT to its line-up. We won't complain if it looks like this.

With its pillarless windscreen and dropped stance, the Clubsport shakes off the TT's hairdresser image and replaces it with a Grade 1 skinhead razor cut.

Under the flared arches sit 20-inch wheels, barely hiding ceramic brakes, while Audi has tweaked the TT's 2.0-litre TFSI to produce 300bhp.

The four-ring Audi badge has been moved onto the bonnet - à la R8 - while the Clubsport also inherits the LED running lights from Audi's top-end supercar.

A fat Q7-style grill and smaller roll hoops complete the picture.

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2007 Autodelta Alfa Romeo GT 3.7 Super

(from Autodelta Press Release) Autodelta present the world’s fastest Alfa GT – the 293 km/h 405 bhp Autodelta GT 3.7 Super

Autodelta is pleased to present for its world premiere the most dynamic and powerful version of the Alfa GT Coupe yet – the 405 bhp supercharged Autodelta GT 3.7 Super. With its top speed of 293 km/h (182 mph) and a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time of 4.9 seconds the Autodelta GT 3.7 Super offers the driver supercar level performance coupled with the car’s famous driveability and practicality.

Introduced four years ago, the Alfa GT Coupe, styled by famed historic Italian design house Bertone, is a gorgeous, sleek and very agile, yet at the same time truly practical, four-seat coupй which immediately won plaudits and awards as well as a loyal following worldwide: a true Alfa Romeo in every sense of the word. Now the new Autodelta GT 3.7 Super takes the GT Coupй theme to the ultimate performance level. It follows on from the market success of the firm’s previous work with the 3.2-litre Alfa GT model: the 320 bhp Autodelta GT 3.2 Super (2004) and the 341 bhp Autodelta GT 3.2 Super Evo version (2005), by raising the Alfa V6 engine and chassis package to even more extreme performance levels.

“Our customers continually push us forward, demanding ever more performance from Alfa Romeo models, and following the 3.2 Super and Evo versions we have had many requests to maximise the Alfa GT’s potential with a 3.7-litre supercharged version,” says Autodelta Managing Director Jano Djelalian. “We have a vast experience with the chassis of this car, and knew it was more than capable of handling the serious power and torque increases that would result from this project – and then transmitting them to the road in a useable and effective manner.”

The new car sees the Alfa GT’s 3.2-litre engine’s capacity increased to 3,750cc, and harnessed with the space-efficient Rotrex C38-81 centrifugal supercharger. The engine development includes extensive cylinder head improvements, new larger fuel injectors with revised spray patterns to optimise combustion and emissions, and a Ferrari-derived throttle body. The car also receives new tubular exhaust manifolds and a complete exhaust system specially designed for the requirements of this upgrade. The result, combined with further chassis, transmission and aerodynamic developments is earth shattering. The Autodelta GT 3.7 Super boasts maximum power of 405 bhp at 6,800 rpm and 508 Nm (375 lb/ft) of torque at 4,800 rpm. The standard Alfa GT 3.2 V6 by comparison offers 240 bhp and 300 Nm (221 lb/ft).

The new Autodelta GT 3.7 Super can reach a maximum speed of 293 km/h (182 mph) and boasts a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration time of 4.9 seconds – blistering performance from what is a perfectly sorted car. (Standard Alfa GT Coupe V6 top speed is 243 km/h while the 0-100 km/h time is 6.7 seconds). The torque availability of the Alfa V6 engine – one of the most famous units in the brand’s almost century long history – is truly impressive, the power curve running smoothly from tickover to the redline at 7,400 rpm.

“The Arese-built Alfa V6 is an excellent engine,” says Jano, “we have more than twenty years of experience developing it to the maximum, and it quite simply responds to everything we want to do to it. The Alfa GT Coupй provides us with all the right ingredients to work with – in the engine and chassis area – and we are all delighted with the results we have achieved with the Autodelta GT 3.7 Super.”

The improvements made to the engine are complimented by extensive remapping to the ECU, while the front-wheel-drive car is able to effectively put the additional power down on the road through the incorporation of an Autodelta-developed and specially manufactured Limited Slip Differential (LSD). Autodelta also fit different gearbox ratios, depending on the customer’s specific requirements.

This is not just a very powerful machine for trackdays or special occasions, but an effective, practical car ready for day-to-day use, fully able to use all its 405 bhp and 508 Nm to enhance the owner’s sensory experience under all driving scenarios. Most Autodelta customers’ demand a high performance Alfa Romeo which is suitable every use, and Autodelta’s engineers regard it as their priority to fulfil this demand.

The Autodelta GT 3.7 Super comes with the enhanced aerodynamic package of the GT Super, including a deeper spoiler that supplies and optimises airflow to the intercooler. The rear bumper assembly incorporates a ‘diffuser’. Interior trim upgrades are optional, including Alcantara trim on the dashboard and panels, as well as bespoke leather packages.

The full Autodelta GT 3.7 Super package is now available for immediate ordering from the London factory or from our worldwide network of authorised dealers.

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Skoda Ffabia Brisk

Brisk by name, brisk by nature is all the introduction you need for this one-off Skoda Fabia.

The RS01 WRC packs a breathed-on version of the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine found in the Octavia vRS.

When the engine hits its peak of 494bhp at 7,800rpm, the RS01 hits 62mph from rest in 2.7 seconds.

The car has been built by Czech spark-plug manufacturer Brisk (geddit?), which fancied doing something a bit different to promote its wares.

The company has not just lopped off the rear of the roof for the coupe lines, it has fitted the RS01 out to full WRC spec and says it will use the car on a few selected rallies.

Underneath the body lies the four-wheel-drive system from a factory Fabia WRC machine, while rally guru Prodrive has been called in to help with final fettling.

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Golf GTI W12

Volkswagen has revealed details of a 650bhp mid-engined Golf GTi design study.

Called the GTi W12-650 (you can see what they've done there), it uses a bi-turbo W12 engine producing 553lb ft torque through the rear wheels.

This, according to VW, means 0-62mph in just 3.7secs and a top speed of 184mph.

The engine sits directly behind the front seats on a unique aluminium structure and a heavily modified bodyshell features integrated vents to keep things cool. Look closely and you'll see the rear quarter windows curve into the C-pillars.

Designers said they wanted to keep the shape as close to the character of the original car as possible, so opted to develop a carbon-fibre roof that also acts as a diffuser.

Inside, there are even more mods for pure performance - unnecessary kit is stripped out, and race-inspired details such as flip-up switch guards and a fire extinguisher feature.

So far the GTi W12-650 is nothing more than a design study, but there's always hope, I guess...

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2007 Porsche 911 Carrera

(from Porsche Press Release) Year after year, the Porsche 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera S Coupes just keep getting better, not through revolutionary re-engineering, but through sometimes subtle changes that take place beneath the cars’ now-classic silhouette.

The enhancements continue for the 2007 model year with such new standard features as leather seating surfaces and tire-pressure monitoring technology. The optional navigation system has been expanded to include maps of Mexico and Puerto Rico as well as the rest of North America. There’s even a new exterior paint color – Meteor Grey Metallic – as well as new optional 19-inch wheel designs.

Such changes may not be dramatic, but they illustrate Porsche’s on-going enhancement of the venerable 911, which is now in its sixth generation since being launched at the 1963 Frankfurt Motor Show. While the powerplant continues to be a horizontally opposed “flat” six-cylinder, that rear-mounted engine now generates 325 horsepower in its 3.6-liter version that propels the 2007 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe and 355 horsepower in the larger, 3.8-liter variation found in the 2007 Porsche 911 Carrera S Coupe.

The 911 has been constantly refined over the course of more than 40 years, and the result is a nimble,
dynamic sports car that is at home on the road or the racetrack.

The 2007 Porsche 911 Carrera and 2007 Porsche 911 Carrera S Coupes may look similar to the 911s
that came before, but they are thoroughly updated models inside and out. They feature six-speed manual transmissions or optional Tiptronic ® S automatic gearboxes with shift buttons on the steering wheel, variable-ratio rack-and-pinion steering, Porsche Active Suspension Management (optional on the 911 Carrera and standard on the 911 Carrera S), an optional Sport Chrono Package Plus that enhances 2007 911 Carrera / Carrera S Coupe 2 performance and records and displays lap times, as well as a passenger compartment with several seating options and a long list of active and passive safety equipment.

For example, for the newest generation of the 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera S Coupes, Porsche
engineers widened the track, improved suspension, steering, braking and aerodynamics, and increased not only engine output but also fuel efficiency. Meanwhile, designers created an even more athletic and aerodynamic body and a new and roomier interior compartment for people and their gear.

New technologies and advances in lubricants extend service intervals and should contribute to a lower cost of ownership during the lifespan of the 2007 Porsche 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera S Coupes. Oil changes are required only every 20,000 miles, air filters last until 40,000 miles and spark plugs should be changed at 60,000 miles.

Every 2007 Porsche vehicle sold in the United States or Canada is covered by a fouryear/50,000-mile (80,000 kilometer), bumper-to-bumper limited warranty, which includes Porsche’s roadside assistance program. The galvanized body and 26-step paint and anti-corrosion process enable Porsche to warrant each car against rust perforation for 10 years and unlimited mileage.

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2007 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

(from Porsche Press Release) The wide-body Porsche 911 returned to the lineup for the 2006 model year in the form of the 911 Carrera 4 and the even more powerful 911 Carrera 4S. Both feature flared wheel arches to accommodate a widened track, larger wheels and tires and all-wheel-drive powertrains that give the venerable Porsche 911 additional dimensions of dynamic stability, especially in inclement weather conditions.

With its even more powerful 355-horsepower, 3.8-liter “boxer” six, the 2007 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S sprints to 60 mph (96 km/h) in a mere 4.6 seconds and closes in on 99 mph in just 10.8 seconds. Top speed on the test track is 179 mph (288 km/h). The Tiptronic ® S version accelerates to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 5.0 seconds and reaches 99 mph (160 km/h) in 11.7 seconds. Top track speed is 174 mph (280 km/h).

To create the more powerful 3.8-liter engine that provides 355 horsepower for the 2007 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S, engineers did more than simply increase the bore diameter by 0.12 inches (3 mm). They changed the intake manifold and modified the intake camshaft lift pattern. Injector angles were changed to enhance fuel flow to the center of the combustion chamber.

This enhanced fuel/air mixture also reduces exhaust emissions, even after a cold start, and increases torque throughout the power curve. A short-pipe exhaust manifold for the 911 Carrera 4S engine further reduces emissions.

The intake system was further designed to provide less resistance. A Helmholtz resonator is used to enhance acoustics. This provides more than 18 cubic inches (0.3 liters) of additional resonance volume between the hot-film air mass meter and the throttle butterfly and is activated between 5,000 and 6,000rpm to reduce oscillations in intake sounds. Porsche has applied for a patent for this technology that provides a deep, throaty sound without aggressive peaks.

Higher combustion forces produce more power but also more torsional crankshaft vibration, so Porsche engineers integrated a vibration damper in the pulley at the end of the crankshaft. While conventional vibration dampers are made of cast iron, Porsche engineers devised an aluminum damper that reduces weight by some 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) while controlling vibrations to a level even lower than the 3.6-liter engine. Amazingly, the 3.8-liter engine weighs no more than the 3.6-liter unit, thanks to its lighter intake manifold.

While the 3.8-liter engine uses twin radiators like the 3.6-liter powerplant, it has a higher performance cooling pump and an oil/water heat exchanger with two additional cooling layers.

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New German-Sourced Lincoln Crossover Reportedly Not Coming to U.S.

Plans have been killed for Lincoln to get a small German-sourced crossover vehicle from Ford in Germany, Automotive News is reporting, and the company is blaming the unfavorable currency exchange rate for the change.

The new small CUV will still be unveiled at the Frankfurt auto show this fall and will hit the European market next year, badged as a Ford. It is reportedly based on Ford's 2006 Paris show concept called the Iosis X.

Importing the small crossover utility vehicle that would have been sourced from Ford's Saarlouis plant in Germany was reportedly a pet project of new Ford chief Alan Mulally. However, it had not been formally given the green light, according to the publication's report.

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Facelift: Saab 9-3

In the tried-and-tested fashion of many ageing Scandinavian models desperately seeking a couple more years' shelf life, the Saab 9-3 has had a facelift.

Saab says the 9-3's cosmetic enhancements were inspired by the funky Aero X concept we saw in Geneva last year, but you'd have to squint damn hard to see it.

The 9-3 gets a restyled front end and a new clamshell bonnet harking back to Saabs of old.

There's also a fresh set of door panels and the rear has also been rejigged, although you'd be hard-pushed to spot it.

All of the 9-3 range - including the BioPower variants - will feel the benefit of the nip-and-tuck treatment when the first facelifted models reach the UK this autumn.

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Insurance Group Names Acura MDX and Ford Taurus Top Safety Picks

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has announced that its top-scoring vehicles for safety, based on crash test results, are the 2007 Acura MDX and the 2008 Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable. Both received the highest score, "good," in front, side and rear crash testing and were named "top safety picks."

The Taurus and Sable have electronic stability control and side airbags with head protection, with the former as an option and the latter standard. ESC was required for any vehicle to contend for the "top safety pick" award. Ford's Five Hundred, predecessor to the Taurus/Sable, did not offer ESC.

Acura made a change to get into the top rank also, IIHS explains; the SUV got low ratings for its seat/head restraints initially, but Honda improved the design. The current safety award applies to MDX vehicles built after May 2007 with the new restraint design.

IIHS rates vehicles based on 40-mph frontal offset crash testing, 31-mph side-impact testing and a two-step rear crash test.

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Insurance Group Names Acura MDX and Ford Taurus Top Safety Picks

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has announced that its top-scoring vehicles for safety, based on crash test results, are the 2007 Acura MDX and the 2008 Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable. Both received the highest score, "good," in front, side and rear crash testing and were named "top safety picks."

The Taurus and Sable have electronic stability control and side airbags with head protection, with the former as an option and the latter standard. ESC was required for any vehicle to contend for the "top safety pick" award. Ford's Five Hundred, predecessor to the Taurus/Sable, did not offer ESC.

Acura made a change to get into the top rank also, IIHS explains; the SUV got low ratings for its seat/head restraints initially, but Honda improved the design. The current safety award applies to MDX vehicles built after May 2007 with the new restraint design.

IIHS rates vehicles based on 40-mph frontal offset crash testing, 31-mph side-impact testing and a two-step rear crash test.

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Mitsubishi's Cheap-Car Gamble

Mitsubishi Motors' president, Osamu Masuko, has every reason for optimism: The Japanese carmaker finally turned a profit for the first time in four years. Boosted by the news, Masuko revealed that the company plans to introduce a no-frills economy car for developing Asian markets in the near future.
Leading Japanese economic magazine Nikkei Weekly reported that Mitsubishi would like to develop a sub-$8,500 car for Asian markets based on the Colt hatch. Honda has successfully captured a segment of the ASEAN (Thai, Malaysian, Indonesian) markets with its City, which is based on the Jazz. The City, also known as the Fit Aria, is now also available in Japan and Europe.

Toyota has tried the same formula with its Vios, which is available in China and some other Asian markets. Lately French carmaker Renault has expanded its cheap Logan into India, where it will be sold under the Nissan banner.

Mitsubishi is not a newcomer when it comes to developing markets. Its Freeca, a rather boxy utilitarian minivan which was originally developed in the 1990s, became a hit all over Asia and spawned many rivals.

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Renault: Good clean fun

Good and evil, ying and yang. It all balances out in the end, or that's what Renault must be hoping for.

Just as the French firm announces its new clean, green eco² range of cars, it's also come up with a track day calendar for its hot hatch models.

So, Renault makes amends for its carbon-frenzied, tyre-squealing track fun with cars that have low emissions, excellent economy and are very recyclable.

You can currently pick from a Megane 1.5 dCi that runs on biodiesel or a 1.6-litre petrol-powered car that uses bioethanol, or the turbocharged Clio 1.4 TCE 100.

As for the Renaultsport track days, there are four UK events across the summer and a fifth day at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium.

You can turn up at any of these track days in your own car - even if it's not a Renault - and then you can sample the current range of Renault hot hatches.

Also on duty at the track days are a Clio V6 and Renaultsport Spider, which certainly gets our ying yanging.

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Suzuki and Opel City Siblings

First details on the second-generation Opel Agila and its Suzuki sibling, the Splash, have been revealed, months ahead of their public debut at the Frankfurt auto show in September.

Back in the late 1990s when General Motors had a stake in Suzuki and Suzuki-designed models wearing Chevrolet badges were sold in various parts of the world, the two companies collaborated in Europe on a new minicar. While the Suzuki Wagon R+ was built in Esztergom, Hungary, its Opel version, the original Agila, was built at a new greenfield factory in Poland. In 2006, production of the Wagon R+ was transferred to Poland, and last month the last models rolled off the assembly line.

Ever since Suzuki unveiled the Concept Splash at the 2006 Paris Auto Show, it was an open secret that the sucessor to the Wagon R+/Agila will be very close to that concept car. Judging by the first official photos of the new Splash and the Agila II, these rumors appear to be true. While the Agila goes for a more rugged styling, the Suzuki looks a bit more trendy. Both are 145.6 inches long and 66.1 inches wide, powered by 1.0-liter or 1.2-liter gasoline or Fiat-sourced 1.3-liter diesel engines. Both will be produced at Suzuki's Hungarian facility, which was recently expanded and now has a capacity of 300,000 cars a year.

The chic-city-car category is one of the most competitive segments in Europe, with cars like the Lancia Ypsilon, Smart and the Toyota Aygo/Citroen C1/Peugeot 107 already accounting for sales of close to half a million a year. Suzuki and GM hope to add another 120,000 units a year.
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BMW Hydrogen 7

BMW is introducing its much talked-about Hydrogen 7 to the UK.

But before hailing this as a big step forward in the green debate, consider that there are only 100 Hydrogen 7s in the world and eight of them are coming to the UK.

BMW intends to use the eight cars to highlight hydrogen as a fuel and will use the 7-Series as chauffeur cars for a variety of swish events during the summer.

Using a V12 engine with 260bhp, the Hydrogen 7 manages 0-62mph in 9.5 seconds and has a top speed of 143mph, while emitting nothing more harmful than water from its exhaust while running on hydrogen.

There's a standard petrol fuel tank to add a further 300 miles to the 125-mile range of the hydrogen tank.

So, if you want to experience a Hydrogen 7, get famous and get invited to a fancy social event this summer.

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Honda displayed its FCX concept

Honda says it will put its FCX hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle on the market in small quantities as early as next year. Japanese and U.S. buyers will be the first to be able to lease the car. The company also says it will produce a mass-market hybrid vehicle within two years, promising that it will cost less than $25,000 and be big enough to use as a family transport.

Honda displayed its FCX concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, saying then that it was the concept form of a vehicle "currently under development for release in 2008."

The automaker showed off two prototypes in the capital on Thursday on a test track. Honda said the fuel-cell vehicles get about 68 mpg and can hit a 100-mph top speed. Driving range is 270 miles, which is a 60-mile improvement over the existing Honda FCX model.

There are currently 20 Honda fuel-cell prototypes on the roads in the United States, mainly being used by government fleets. The automaker says it is working on ways to get large numbers of fueling stations set up, collaborating with Air Products, BP, Chevron and Shell. Another project Honda is working on is a form of home energy station that would let vehicle owners refuel using home natural gas supplies.

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2007 Mercedes-Benz AMG DTM C-Class

Like the road car, the 2007 AMG-Mercedes C-Class also represents the third generation of this model. With 54 victories out of 106 races in which it has been entered until the end of 2006 (in 1994 and 1995 and since 2004 in the DTM and also in the 1996 ITC which had been derived from the DTM), the C-Class is not only the most successful Mercedes-Benz in the championship, but the most successful car in the history of the DTM.

Development, design and construction began in March 2006 when the technicians and engineers headed by Gerhard Ungar, technical director of HWA, received the CAD data for the new model. About ten months later – on January 24, 2007 – the new C-Class for the DTM made its debut on the race track. At the roll-out and initial testing in Estoril, Portugal, Bernd Schneider and Bruno Spengler took turns behind the wheel; the two drivers who had finished the 2006 championship in first and second positions respectively.

Ungar and his colleagues started with a 1:2 scale wind tunnel model, because aerodynamic development played an important role. Parts such as doors, front screen and bonnet had to be designed and manufactured completely new to match the car’s new silhouette. The V8 engine with a cylinder angle of 90 degrees, a capacity of four litres and four valves per cylinder has been further optimised, particularly with respect to driveability. Equipped with two air restrictors, each with a diameter of 28 millimetres, as stipulated in the regulations, the engine now develops 350 kW/approx. 476 hp at 7500 rpm and delivers a peak torque of 500 Nm. The engineers also worked on the suspension where the toe-in and camber angles offer great scope for further improving both handling and driving dynamics.

In the 2007 season, Bernd Schneider, Mika Haikkinen, Bruno Spengler and Jamie Green will race the new AMG-Mercedes C-Class. Schneider (42) has been a member of the Mercedes-Benz DTM team since 1991. He achieved 41 race wins, and clinched the DTM Championship titles in 1995, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2006. Hдkkinen (38) was the 1998 and 1999 Formula One World Champion with Team McLaren Mercedes. In 2001, the Finn retired from Formula One after 161 Grands Prix and 20 wins. Four years later, he came back in the DTM winning only his third race in the AMG-Mercedes C-Class at Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium. Bruno Spengler (23) is the youngest HWA driver. For the French-Canadian, 2007 is the third year in the DTM. In his first year as a works driver in 2006, he won four races and ended the season as runner-up behind Schneider. Green (24) was the 2004 Formula 3 Euro Series Champion with a Dallara Mercedes. In the DTM, the Englishman collected six pole positions and five podium finishes until now.

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Dan Gurney To Be Honored at Laguna Seca Walk of Fame

Dan Gurney, who is celebrating his 40th anniversary in racing, has been named as the first inductee into Legends of Laguna Seca, a brand-new walk of fame at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The program will honor Gurney and several other racing greats this year as part of the racetrack's own 50th anniversary celebration. An actual walk is to be installed later.
Gurney's induction will take place as part of the U.S. Sports Car Invitational at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during the May 18-20 weekend. The others to be named to the honor include Eddie Lawson, Pete Lovely, Wayne Rainey and Bobby Rahal. They will be celebrated at other race weekends scheduled to take place at Laguna Seca this summer.

Gurney competed in the first professional race Laguna Seca, the Pacific Grand Prix of 1960. He was also a fixture at the Can-Am sports car races held there in the late 1960s. Later Gurney's team, All American Racers, built and entered IMSA sports car and CART IndyCar events at Laguna Seca, and his Toyota sports cars were four-time winners at the track.

Forty years ago, Gurney became the first and only American to be victorious in a World Championship Formula 1 Grand Prix race in an American car of his own construction. It was June 18, 1967, when Gurney won the Grand Prix of Belgium at Spa-Francorchamps in his All American Racers Eagle. That same month, he co-drove the winning Ford Mk IV at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with A.J. Foyt, Jr.

Gurney will not just be an honoree but also a spectator at the U.S. Sports Car Invitational, as his son Alex Gurney will be driving a Daytona Prototype in the main event.

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2007 Porsche Cayenne Emergency Vehicle

(from Porsche Press Release) One of the fastest emergency vehicles, fully suited for rough terrain as well, has been developed in Zuffenhausen. With laborious hand work, 15 trainees of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart have converted the sport utility vehicle Cayenne S into a very modern deployment vehicle for rescue workers. The prototype will be employed by Health and Safety Services.

The interior of the original production vehicle from the first Cayenne generation was completely modified. The rear seat and passenger seat had to give way to an aluminum frame construction, onto which the stretcher can be slid through the tailgate of the vehicle. A seat for the emergency doctor was set up adjacent to the stretcher. The modified Cayenne S provides the doctor with highly modern medical equipment for administering first aid to the patient. Among other equipment, an EKG with a defibrillator an electroshock device for treating patients with ventricular fibrillation , an electrical suction pump, an emergency backpack and various rescue tools are included.

The maneuverable vehicle considerably improves the chances for rescue in difficult terrain. Thanks to a permanent all-wheel drive with reduction gears and a locking central differential, a versatile off-road chassis and high ground clearance, the vehicle also reaches remote locations off the beaten track and can handle slopes of up to 45 degrees. A further advantage is its air suspension including the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) adaptive dampening system - this permits especially careful transport of patients.

The idea for the concept of the Cayenne emergency vehicle came from Porsche Health Management. The industrial physicians have given the trainees the task of building four emergency vehicles, which are destined for the Porsche plants in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen and Weissach in Baden-Wrttemberg as well as the Leipzig plant. The Cayenne will also be stationed at the Porsche test track in Weissach.

Porsche trainees have since gained extensive experience in equipping special vehicles. Six Cayennes have already been prepared with different equipment for use in fire fighting, plant security and Health and Safety Services. "Every vehicle is unique with very special solutions. These special projects permit cross-divisional teamwork with the experience of mechanical designers, electronic specialists, vehicle mechatronic specialists, vehicle equipment assemblers and painters. The challenging task which requires the greatest handworking skills and precise work, motivates the young men and women," Porsche Head of Training Dieter Esser said. The special attraction is the production of a product which is extremely useful instead of practical experience in purely didactical way.

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Aprilia Magnet

Three wheels, four motors, a funky tilt mechanism and a healthy sprinkling of Italian flair: this is the sort of green we like.

This is the Aprilia Magnet, a design project dreamt up by Finnish student Heikki Naulapaa at the Royal College of Art. The Magnet is designed to be run as a hybrid, as each wheel contains an electric motor.

They're all charged by a 550cc version of Aprilia's V-twin hypermotard engine. It spins up to a heady 14,000rpm and is good for 85bhp, but the Magnet can switch to straight electric power for around-town ambling.

But it's all about the driving experience. The Magnet should give the performance of a 1000cc superbike - with the rider involvement to match.

'I wanted to create a vehicle which offers a new kind of emotional experience while riding,' says Naulapaa. 'I mixed the motorbike's leaning characteristics with a Formula One driving position and the feeling of a small sports car feeling and being half-inside the vehicle.'

Could it ever go into production? Naulapaa reckons so. "The Magnet was more a concept study, but it could be produced," he says. "There are some technical aspects which may need to be changed in order to keep the manufacturing costs down, but they wouldn't create major problems to production."

Who says the future's all doom and gloom?

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2009 Audi A4 Spy Photos

Photographers have spied the new 2009 Audi A4 testing at Audi's Technical Center here. Although the car is heavily camouflaged, the 2009 A4's overall size and shape is readily apparent.

Built on Audi's new modular platform that underpins the Audi A5 coupe, this new A4 should deliver more balanced handling as the engine will sit farther back in the chassis. Audi has long intended to make the new A4 a more direct competitor to the sporty BMW 3 Series and this A4 may finally have the right formula.

Powertrains have not been confirmed, but engines are expected to range from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder to a 4.2-liter V8 much like the current model. Front-wheel drive and Quattro all-wheel-drive variants will remain as well.

The 2009 Audi A4 will make its official debut in September at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show.

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Mercedes-Benz AMG 40th Anniversary

(from DaimlerChrysler Press Release) 40 Years of AMG: From a two-man start-up to a global business

Stuttgart, May 08, 2007 From its beginnings 40 years ago as a specialist motorsport and tuning firm, Mercedes-AMG GmbH has grown into a supplier of exclusive high-performance cars with some 750 employees, an extensive model range comprising 18 different AMG cars, customers across the world and a brand name which has gained a high level of recognition.

The company was founded on June 1, 1967 by Hans Werner Aufrecht (A) and his partner Erhard Melcher (M); the third letter in the company name (G) came from Aufrecht's birthplace, GroЯaspach. The two men officially described themselves as "Engineering, construction and testing specialists in the development of racing engines". The firm was based in an old mill in Burgstall (near Affalterbach).

Breakthrough in 1971 with second place at the 24 Hours of Spa

In the early years of the company, its founders concentrated on building racing cars based on the Mercedes-Benz 300 SE and competing in European touring car races. They did not have to wait long for their breakthrough: a Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG finished a surprising second overall at the 24 Hours of Spa in 1971 in Belgium, winning its class at the same time. The 315-kW/428-hp racing saloon was driven alternately by Hans Heyer and Clemens Schickentanz.
This historic victory was followed by countless successes at all manner of motorsport arenas: AMG took the DTM team title no less than five times. Bernd Schneider, Gary Paffett and Klaus Ludwig collected a total of eight DTM titles, with Schneider also taking the ITC (International Touring Car Championship) title. It was Bernd Schneider again, at the wheel of the Affalterbach team's CLK-GTR, who took the drivers' title in the inaugural FIA GT Championship in 1997, a success repeated by Klaus Ludwig and Ricardo Zonta the following year when they also won the constructors' title for Team AMG Mercedes – the CLK-GTR won all eleven races of the season. In the current 2007 DTM season, Bernd Schneider - who already has a record-breaking five titles to his name – is committed to doing everything he can to defend his 2006 championship title in the all-new AMG Mercedes C-Class.

Outstanding technological achievements boost business

AMG's success was to spread far beyond the world of international motorsport. By the 1970s, customers were beginning to acquire a taste for more individuality in their cars, a trend which the Swabian company used to develop its business. The transfer of technology from motorsport to series-production development was already an integral part of the company's philosophy. AMG's ability to deliver outstanding technological achievements and first-class quality as a result of its involvement in motorsport meant that the company quickly made a name for itself and became highly respected. As a result of the aims which it had set itself, AMG soon became one of the pioneers in the refinement and tuning of premium vehicles. The strong demand for refined and tuned Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the 1970s led to a steady increase in the number of orders received by AMG. The company outgrew its base in Burgstall and moved to Affalterbach in 1976. As the first Mercedes-Benz tuning company, AMG developed into a model for an entire branch of the automotive industry. The company's impact was evident at the 1981 Frankfurt Motor Show, where a total of 176 exhibitors were involved in tuning and accessories for the Mercedes-Benz brand. An important event in the history of AMG was the launch of the Mercedes-Benz 190 in 1982. The compact saloon soon became a favourite with German car tuners and helped AMG to tap into a whole new clientele.

AMG opens its second plant and the workforce grows to 100

AMG continued to expand: the company opened its second plant in 1985 and took on its 100th employee. Customers from all over the world began to come to Affalterbach, among them prominent figures from the spheres of motorsport, film, music, sport and business, not to mention royalty. Time and again, the extremely specialised requirements of these highly discerning customers resulted in exceptional projects, which AMG was always able to bring to fruition thanks to its unerring passion and expertise. As an industry pioneer and trendsetter, AMG was able to draw on its ever-expanding wealth of experience to great effect. Ignoring short-lived fads, the company was already committed to its vision of securing – and maintaining – the position of world leader in its sector in terms of technology, design, sales and earnings.

Cooperation agreement with Daimler-Benz AG in 1990

One of the key milestones in the history of AMG came in 1990, with the signing of the cooperation agreement with Daimler-Benz AG. Demand and customer acceptance were given a tremendous boost now that AMG products could be sold and maintained through Mercedes-Benz' worldwide network of company-owned sales and service outlets and dealerships. Further expansion led to the opening of a third plant in 1990 and an increase in the workforce to 400 employees. In 1993, the company unveiled the Mercedes-Benz C 36 AMG, the first jointly developed vehicle to result from the cooperation agreement. In another development the same year, the Patent Office recognised AMG as a trademark as the name was now so well known.

Incorporation into the DaimlerChrysler Group in 1999

Hans Werner Aufrecht transferred a majority stake in the steadily growing company to DaimlerChrysler AG on January 1, 1999. On January 1, 2005 DaimlerChrysler acquired 100 per cent of the shares. This allowed the newly founded Mercedes-AMG GmbH to benefit to an even greater extent from the Group's resources and global standing. Also in 1999, the motorsport department was transferred to company founder Hans Werner Aufrecht's firm H.W.A. GmbH (now H.W.A. AG). Located in close proximity to Mercedes-AMG GmbH, some 200 staff now work there together with Mercedes-Benz Motorsport to manage the two companies' long-standing involvement in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM).

Involvement in Formula 1 with the official F1™ safety car

Mercedes-AMG has been an important part of the safety concept in Formula 1 for over ten years. The official F1 safety car is based on the CLK 63 AMG whilst also providing the technological blueprint for the new CLK 63 AMG Black Series. The C 55 AMG Estate, meanwhile, provides the basis for the official F1™ medical car. The decades of experience acquired in touring car and GT racing played a key role in the development of these two extra-special AMG vehicles.

Opening of the AMG PERFORMANCE STUDIO in 2006

The opening of the AMG PERFORMANCE STUDIO in 2006 marked the start of a new initiative to appeal to customers on a most individual level. In addition to the AMG high-performance cars available through the global Mercedes-Benz sales organisation, the PERFORMANCE STUDIO develops and produces special series of AMG vehicles in exclusive numbers. Offered as the Signature Series, Black Series and Editions, these uniquely special models stand out by virtue of their outstanding handling, race-track capability, distinctive technical and visual features or their exclusive equipment details, depending on the particular model in question. Apart from the new CLK 63 AMG Black Series, the latest product from the AMG PERFORMANCE STUDIO is the SLK 55 AMG Black Series, a purist's lightweight version equipped with an AMG 5.5-litre V8 engine delivering 294 kW/400 hp, plus numerous components from the world of motorsport. As well as focussing on particularly compelling AMG vehicles, the AMG PERFORMANCE STUDIO also attends to customers' individual requests – a traditional forte of Mercedes-AMG. These special requirements can take the form of specific technical modifications, such as AMG sports suspension systems, AMG high-performance brake systems, AMG wheel/tyre combinations, limited-slip differentials and customised interior appointments, as well as bespoke one-off models.

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Tesla Electric Vehicles Won't Go to Franchisers

Tesla Motors, maker of the hot and hotly anticipated $92,000 electric Roadster, will sell its products through factory-owned stores, not traditional dealerships. The company will put the first cars on sale in Santa Monica, California, in November, then move to major cities including San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and eventually Denver, Boston and other major markets.

Automotive News quoted Tesla Marketing Vice President Darryl Siry as saying, "We can't hand over the car to an independent franchiser" who would "spend his time apologizing for the car's shortcomings." Therefore the company plans to run its own sales outlets, which he said would be more like an Apple computer store than a traditional vehicle dealership.

Bloomberg reports 400 orders have already been placed for the first model, the two-seat Tesla Roadster, with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and actor George Clooney on the list.

A second model, the WhiteStar sedan is due in 2010. Whether or not Tesla has the cash to produce the second model is still a question.

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2007 Grabercars La Bala

(from Grabercars Press Release) The car is for sale in both turnkey-minus and self-assembly format. Pricing for the self-assembly model starts at $25,000 and is a complete package minus drivetrain and paint.

The key features of this car are its light weight (for a full-bodied car) of only 1,500Lbs, and the capability for the purchaser to utilize virtually any FWD drivetrain they desire. This is due to the modular construction of the engine bay. Of course the lighter the engine package the better balanced the car becomes, and with a turbocharged 1.6L Toyota powerplant (in the current car) making 170Hp, the car does 0-60 in 4.3 seconds and has a F/R weight bias of 35/65. This is a street legal track car that is similar in size to a Lotus Elise. The photos I am sending show the car in full track trim. Length 124", wheelbase 98", track 57", width 67".

Grabercars is based out of Phoenix, Arizona and is only moments from Sky Harbor International Airport. We welcome prospective customers.

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Microsoft To Release Forza Motorsport 2 on May 29

Gentlemen, start your game systems! Americans will be able to buy the 2.0 version of the famous Forza Motorsport driving simulator starting on May 29.

The Microsoft Game Studios' "fully customizable" driving simulator game was designed by "top automotive engineers, professional racecar drivers and experienced programmers" so you can experience heat and pressure changes, aerodynamic load — and "dramatic damage and wear" — just like in a real car on a real road. The company says it offers "deeper and more realistic physics than ever before."

Among the locations you can select are the Suzuka and Sebring racetracks, Laguna Seca and Silverstone, and New York City streets. Some 300 cars from more than 50 manufacturers are collectible in the game and can be personalized, tuned and modified extensively — then taken into online competition through Xbox live.

A demo is downloadable at the Forza Motorsport Web site for those who can't wait until the end of the month. On the site you can also see the complete list of all 310 cars that will be playable as part of the game.

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MDI MiniCAT

Here at Top Gear we're big fans of air. In fact, we swear by the stuff. Couldn't do without it.

And, if the MDI MiniCAT is anything to go by, cars could soon be joining us in our addiction to the clear stuff.

Guy Negre, the founder of MDI, has been beavering away to produce a car that runs on compressed gas since 1991, and he finally reckons he's close to cracking it.

MDI has just signed a deal with Indian company Tata to speed up putting the MiniCAT into production.

Running solely on compressed air - and therefore producing zero emissions - the MiniCAT has a range of up to 200 miles and a heady top speed of 68mph. More of an urban runaround than a motorway cruiser, we feel.

But the MiniCAT is impressively cost efficient. MDI engineers have quoted running costs of just £1.80 per 100 miles, and, without the pressures of combustion, the MiniCAT only requires an oil change once every 31,000 miles.

And because the clean air expelled by the exhaust pipe is a few degrees below zero, there's no need for an internal air-conditioning system.

Of course, there's that little problem of finding a petrol station that'll supply you with compressed gas, but MDI reckons that adapted filling points will become more common.

If it all sounds a little too good to be true, just remember that there's got to be some energy expended to compress the air in the first place.

If MDI can solve that riddle - and the fact that the MiniCAT looks like the car that Borat drove across America - we might be looking at clean-breathing cars in the not-too-distant future.

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2007 ASMA Design Eagle II Widebody based on Mercedes-Benz S-Class

(from ASMA Press Release) The new Project becomes through our amazing performance kit a never seen experience on the roads of Germany. This amazing model is crowned with the name “Eagle II“.

The powerful wings of an eagle which are symbolized by the typical ASMA Design Air Intakes in the front fenders of the car, the perfect body kit with the typical ASMA Design elements and the bi-colour painting are creating this dominating presence.

Promises are promises and we keep our promises because we put another accent on the rear which makes you scared like the dominating front and the exhaust system.

Its body control is just stunning, its combination of comfort and structural integrity masterful. The ASMA Design wheels on the front axle in 9,5 x 21 inch and on the back axle in 11 x 21 are completing the excellent design of the car. The wheels are on the front axle vast 255/30/21 and on the back axle 295/25/21.

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2010 Hyundai Tiburon Captured

Spy photos of the 2010 Hyundai Tiburon have been leaked onto the Internet and are finding their way into Hyundai chat rooms. Sharing a rear-wheel-drive platform with Hyundai's new Genesis sedan that was unveiled in April as a concept at the New York auto show, the Tiburon is expected to go on sale in Korea in late 2008 and early-to-mid-2009 in North America.

Slightly bigger than the current Tiburon, this redesigned coupe takes many of its styling cues from the HCD-8 concept shown several years ago. Likely to share powertrains with the Genesis sedan, at least the DOHC V6 engine, Hyundai is focusing on the Infiniti G37 coupe as a chief competitor. The spy photos also reveal another engine possibility: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

Pricing is expected to start in the high $20,000s.

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Mercedes R-Class

Is it an MPV? An SUV? An over-inflated estate? No one's quite sure what the Mercedes R-Class really is, and the latest makeover on the biggest car in Merc's lineup won't do anything to clear up the confusion.

First, the R-Class is now being offered with rear-wheel drive. Previously a four-wheel-drive car only, we reckon that moves the R-Class nearer to MPV rather than SUV territory. Maybe.

But wait. Merc has rejigged the seating in the R-Class too. Whereas it was once strictly a six-seater - three rows of captain's chairs - you can now specify your family crossover-type-thing in five- or seven-seat guise.

That's a middle row of three seats plus an additional pair in the back, which can be removed to make way for Christmas trees or Jacuzzis or whatever it is people put in the back of an R-Class. Which might make it more of an estate. But we're not sure.

The R-Class has also been given a quick facelift, with new circular fog lamps and fresh body styling at the front and rear.

Oh, and there's a new entry-level petrol engine: a three-litre V6 that will see the R-Class to 62mph in just under 10 seconds.

The top-of-the-range 5.5-litre V8 remains though, which presumably makes the R-Class a luxury-sport-crossover... no, we give up.

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Road Trip! Smart Cross-Country Tour Showcases Fortwo

Smart USA is starting off the U.S. marketing of the Smart Fortwo with a bang: a cross-country road tour, starting May 19, that will let prospective buyers in 50 cities test-drive the DaimlerChrysler unit's little car.

The tour starts in Los Angeles and continues until November. Smart will be visiting festivals, sporting events, college campuses and dealerships to build interest in the two-seat city car.

The road show will showcase four drivable vehicles at each stop and stay for four days in each city. The show will go through San Diego, Las Vegas and other points West, then head to the "central region" including Minneapolis, Cleveland and Detroit in mid-June and July before heading to the Southeast and East, finishing up in Miami in November. Complete schedules are available at the Smart USA Web site.

The United Auto Group of dealers, of which Smart USA is a subsidiary, reported today that 12,600 people have already plunked down $99 deposits to hold a place on a waiting list to buy a Fortwo. The cars go on sale in the U.S. market in 2008, expected to be priced under $12,000 and retailed by a group of 50-60 exclusive dealers.

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Chrysler Museum Revving Up for Cruise Nights All Summer

The Walter P. Chrysler Museum here will be hosting a series of six Thursday cruise nights for the owners of classic Chrysler products this summer. On the menu will be free museum tours and music — and a display of Chrysler concepts along the circular driveway in front of the museum.

There will also be "product specialists" on site to talk engine displacement and other topics of interest to the enthusiasts in attendance. Prizes will be given in various categories.

The summer kicks off with Dodge Challenger night on June 14. Other events are Classic Cruiser night, Extreme Performance night, "Radical" night featuring the Chrysler Akino, Plymouth Expresso, Dodge Sling Shot and Jeep Treo concepts, Jeep night and the final evening, Hot Truck night.

More details are available at the Chrysler Museum Web site.

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Volvo S80 Adds T6 AWD Variant

GOTHENBURG, Sweden — Volvo's redesigned S80 sedan adds a new performance variant for 2008: the turbocharged T6 with all-wheel drive.

The T6 features a turbocharged 3.0-liter version of Volvo's 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine, rated at 285 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.

The T6 will be equipped with all-wheel drive, including an electronically controlled hydraulic clutch that automatically distributes power between the front and rear wheels for optimum traction on different road surfaces.

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2008 Cadillac STS

(from General Motors Press Release) ENHANCED 2008 CADILLAC STS DELIVERS SIGNATURE STYLING AND ADVANCED PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGY

NEW YORK – The 2008 Cadillac STS, featuring refreshed signature styling inside and out; a new, standard 298-horsepower (222 kW) V-6 engine; and a host of new vehicle technologies, debuts at next week’s New York Auto Show, April 6-15, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center.

“For the past two decades, the Cadillac STS has been a showcase of luxury, performance and technology,” said Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manger. “The new 2008 STS extends that heritage with a bold new look, the debut of a new, high-tech standard engine and some of the industry’s most advanced safety technology.”

Refreshed design, inside and out

With overall dimensions slightly increased, the new STS conveys more of the design flair that has become a Cadillac signature. Up front, the dual-textured, multi-faceted grille first seen on the Sixteen concept and incorporated on both the Escalade and soon-to-be-launched 2008 CTS, has been adapted to the STS, giving the luxury performance sedan a more sophisticated appearance. Vertically stacked headlamps with large, dual 70mm projector lenses are encased in an aluminized, single-piece bezel. High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps are now available on V-6 models.

Also available on V-6 models for the first time are Intellibeam headlamps. The headlamps automatically switch gradually from high beam to low beam when vehicles approach or the vehicle is approaching taillamps. The lower front fascia is a new design, with a new intake and grille patterned after current Cadillac ‘V’ cues. New, narrower side marker lamps are added.

Similarly, side air extractors, again inspired by the Sixteen and Escalade, are now incorporated in the front fenders of the STS.

New styling touches also include chrome-plated door handles and new lower rocker moldings that blend into the lower line of the vehicle for more presence and refinement.

At the rear, the new fascia is now body-color, and is highlighted with the addition of polished, aluminum three-inch exhaust tips.

New, polished 18-inch by 8-inch aluminum 14-spoke wheels are available. For these available wheels, Michelin W-rated, 235/50R18 tires are used up front, and the rear wheels are fitted with 255/45R18 all-season radials.

Inside, STS’s luxurious interior includes a new steering wheel with available genuine Sapele Pommele wood trim. Sapele is an exotic wood more commonly used in fine furniture and musical instruments. A heated steering wheel also is available. The center stack of the instrument panel is revised with the addition of wood trim that has new metallic surroundings.

New, available features for the STS include a head-up display on V-6 models. The head-up display projects key driving information (such as speedometer ratings) onto the windshield, enabling drivers to keep their eyes on the road.

STS adds direct-injection V-6

For 2008, STS will be the first GM vehicle equipped with a new 3.6-liter direct-injected V-6 engine. The new base powerplant, with 298 horsepower (222 kW), delivers 40 more horsepower; and torque is increased to 268 lb.-ft. (371 Nm) – up from 252 lb.-ft. (348 Nm) on the current base engine.

The new direct-injected 3.6L will be mated to the Hydra-Matic 6L50 six-speed automatic transmission, the first pairing of this transmission with a V-6 engine. Additionally, the STS V-6 will continue to be available with all-wheel drive (AWD) for 2008.

Advantages of the new direct-injected engine include a 25-percent reduction in cold-start hydrocarbon emissions. Additionally, despite the 15-percent increase in power, fuel economy is expected to increase slightly.

Lane departure technology debuts

Continuing Cadillac’s commitment to using advanced safety features, the 2008 STS will offer new features including a new performance handling package; enhanced variable-effort steering with StabiliTrak on V-8 models; and new lane departure warning and blind side alerts.

The new performance handling package will be available for V-8-equipped rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models and V-6-equipped rear-drive models. The package includes 18-inch by 8.5-inch aluminum alloy, chrome-plated wheels fitted with new P255/45R18 Michelin Pilot Sport summer-only tires.

Brembo brakes with four-piston calipers provide enhanced braking, with front rotors measuring 14-inch by 1.2-inch (355mm x 32mm) coupled with 14.4-inch by 1.1-inch (365mm x 28mm) rear rotors. All four rotors are vented.

In addition to controlling brakes and reducing engine power, the latest iteration of StabiliTrak combines active front steering to turn the front wheels into the skid when rear wheels lose traction. The system includes a new steering motor assembly combined with computer-driven electronic controls that measure wheel slippage at all four wheels independently during acceleration, braking and adverse road conditions.

To help alert drivers to maintain their position on the road, the STS will be available with a new lane departure system. Controlled by a camera located in the rearview mirror that reads the lines in the road, the system will alert drivers when they have strayed into another lane. Drivers will get both audible and visual alert cues.

Another new feature is an available blind spot alert system. The radar-based convenience feature will provide drivers with a visual alert that appears on the outside rearview mirror when vehicles appear in a specified side zone.

The 2008 STS is expected to be available in Cadillac dealerships by mid-summer. Introductory pricing will be announced at a later date.

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Karl Lagerfeld Photographs Audi R8 Supercar

A photo shoot he just did of the midengine Audi R8 supercar is not the first time fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has dabbled in the automotive realm. His legendary pieces include a car dress with a radiator grille and a fender.

Lagerfeld, one of the most influential fashion designers of the late 20th century, who is known for his signature long ponytail, was commissioned by Audi to shoot the R8 in "an unusual new light." The images will be on display at the Audi Forum in New York City for a two-week run starting on May 12. The black-and-white photographs will also be part of an exclusive calendar, "Kaleidoscopic Vision of a Car," that the automaker says will only be available to R8 buyers.

"Seeing this emotion-stirring sports car through the eyes of a design icon such as Karl Lagerfeld is an impressive experience — and heightens the anticipation of all those who have already ordered it even further," said Ralph Weyler, Audi AG board member for marketing and sales.

The R8 is the powerhouse of the Audi lineup, with a 420-horsepower V8 FSI engine and an aluminum space frame. The car's base price is $109,000.

Lagerfeld is known for his work behind a camera as well as on the runway. He has shot fashion advertisements for Chanel and produced "Visionaire 23: The Emperor's New Clothes," a series of nude portraits.

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Special Ferrari customers get their own car

Forget tuning, Ferrari's special customers get their own car designed by the Italian firm. Take one US customer. Not content to follow the lead of James Glickenhaus and his one-off P4/5 based on an Enzo, this guy has ordered three 600 GTOs.

The new cars will be based on the 612 Scaglietti, but shed 285kg in weight. New bodywork will also create 25 per cent more downforce at 125mph.

Ferrari won't reveal the name of this very special customer, but there are rumours that the buyer wants to resurrect the Ferrari North American Racing Team (NART) that was founded by Ferrari's original US importer Luigi Chinetti in 1958.

The 600 GTO is due to make its debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

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Mazda To Ramp Up Spending on Green Technologies

Mazda is carefully positioning itself to become the small-vehicle environmental leader within the Ford Motor Company. The company plans a major green effort within the next few years, hiking its research and development budget 30 percent to beef up efforts on green vehicles.

The Nikkei reports that Mazda will spend $4.2 billion over the next four fiscal years on the effort. But Mazda President Hisakazu Imaki could not specify which technologies will dominate its research initiative. He said Mazda will try to maximize its budget by focusing on small vehicles in hopes of becoming a pioneer in the segment within Ford.

Mazda has several interesting green options in the pipeline, including a hybrid-electric vehicle with a hydrogen-fueled combustion engine that is due next year. It is also planning a diesel-powered vehicle for early next decade.

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Rebel

It may look like it has been cobbled together with Lego and sticky-back plastic, but this is what we all should be driving by 2020, according to a team of car designers.

The 'youth' car has been created by Kazunori Inomota, Edward Stubbs and Mujammil Khan-Muztar, graduates of Coventry University's Automotive Design MA course.

The car was penned with an eye on the Scion brand, which is a yoof-oriented make sold in the US and owned by Toyota. Think funked-up Yaris models and you're on the right track.

Called the Rebel, the design can be chopped and changed to suit any mood or need, even allowing a bed to be made on the floor.

Power comes from an electric battery that drives individual motors in each wheel, which also regenerate electricity as the car slows.

The designers reckon a number of car companies will be interested and even non-car companies such as Apple.

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Want a New Ferrari ?

Never an impulse purchase, a new Ferrari nowadays is something you will wait upwards of 24 months to get. The cars, built in quantities of 6,000 or fewer per year, have always taken about a year from order to delivery, but demand from developing parts of the world — particularly the Middle East and Asia — has made the wait longer.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Chinese buyers are snapping up at least 150 Ferraris a year, and that 60 of the Italian thoroughbreds went to Russia this year. Both were markets where Ferraris were virtually unknown in the past. The paper also notes that the high demand and very low supply means a gray market in resold cars is a constant struggle for Ferrari to deal with.

About 28 percent of the Ferraris built went to North America in 2006, according to Ferrari, with European countries accounting for about 40 percent, but the "other" column is growing, at 21 percent last year.

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Lotus Exige

So the Italians get a Gallardo, the Brits get a 612 Scaglietti, and the Aussies get... a Lotus Exige.
We're talking police cars. Racked off with lagging behind their northern hemisphere counterparts in the jam sandwich department, police in Sydney have laid their hands on an Exige to assist their fight against crime.

Having been inspired by the good bobbies of Norfolk, who were donated an Elise to help round up the Fen lowlifes, the New South Wales police force plan to use their Exige to, erm, encourage locals to slow down.

"The Lotus Exige will help break down barriers between our officers and youth in the area. It gives them a discussion point and a way of breaking the ice," said Superintendent Dave Darcy.

"We have a large proportion of car enthusiasts in the area and it is a challenge to influence them to drive safely. Whilst its easy to give this group tickets to slow them down, we would prefer to influence young drivers to take care on the roads."

Quite how one of one of the quickest cars to come out of Hethel in recent years is going to help errant speeders to realise the errors of their ways, we're not quite sure. But we're not going to argue with the logic of an Aussie policeman. He probably has a big gun and beats kangaroos with his bare fists.

Anyhow, the Sydney police say they're also looking forward to the fuel savings that the Elise will provide over their standard patroller - a 6.0-litre V8 Holden Commodore which struggles to top 20mpg. Strewth.

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Audi RS4 Art Car

One of the world's most macho cars, the 420-horsepower Audi RS4, has been transformed into a feminine piece of art at the hand of Romero Britto, a Brazil-born pop artist and one-time Miami street artist.

The RS4 art car includes a Picasso-like rendering of a green-eyed female on the hood of the car, polka dots, stripes and wild primary colors. The RS4 art car was commissioned by Audi and was introduced last week during Art Chicago, an international contemporary and modern art fair.

"For the Audi RS4, I wanted to create something that would combine sophistication, dynamism and fun on one hand, but also include the aspect of a future generation on the other — as Audi is an innovative and leading brand," Britto said. "This is why I came to choose the portrait of a woman, as it incorporates all these attributes."

Britto has been compared to such icons as Matisse and Picasso, although he is firmly entrenched in the pop-culture realm. In 1989, he was commissioned by Absolut Vodka to design a bottle label for the company.

The RS4 is one in a series of art cars commissioned by the German automaker. The Audi RS4 Art Collectors' Tour will be making stops in such places as New York and Miami.

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Hyundai i30

Hyundai's desperate attempt to come over all European continues with the arrival of the i30 Estate.

Yep, it's an estate version of the uninspiring i30 hatch, built in the Czech Republic to give it that all-important Euro flavour.

It was also designed in Frankfurt, although we're not sure if that's a good or a bad thing design-wise.

The i30 Estate will go on sale early in 2008 in the UK with 1.6-litre petrol and turbodiesel engines.

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AutoExe Develops ER-03 From Mazda CX-7

Japanese tuner AutoExe has already created sporting editions of the Mazda Miata (née Roadster) and the RX-8. Its latest effort revolves around the more prosaic Mazda CX-7 crossover vehicle.

AutoExe has created the new ER-03 package for the CX-7, bundling an aero body kit with some serious suspension and powertrain mods.

The exterior enhancements include custom wheels, side skirts, new bumpers and stainless steel exhaust pipes.

AutoExe stiffens the chassis, and the suspension can be lowered from 1.2-1.6 inches. Brakes are upgraded, and a larger intercooler enhances the performance of the turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine.

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2007 Weber Sportscar

(from Weber Press Release) The aerodynamic tuning is probably the most important thing from a super sportscar. Our technicians have spent a long time with the optimism. Over a period of nine months new models were designed again and again. The perfect result can be showed! Reaching the finale speed of over 400 km/h is guaranteed. Important in this case are those contact pressure in the front and in the rear, so that the vehicle remains stable at the street. The engine and transmission interpretation were determined due to these dates. We have a power reserve of 15%, in order to reach the final speed.

The adaptive wing is constructed for excellent acceleration and for best results by braking.

In slow motion is the rear spoiler retracted and will be extended during acceleration.. The position of the spoiler is variable and is affected by the car condition. The rear spoiler will be in a vertical position during the breaking process. The maximum breakpower will be 4'000 N which the car will reach additional.

Basic components:

Complete body from carbon (CFK)

The chassis consists of high-quality aluminum sequential gearbox with semiautomatic and full automatic shift mode

High Performance 7.0l V8 supercharged mid mounted and intercooled engine with dry sump, 900hp and 1050Nm with different engine management modes (comfort mode with reduced power and fuel consumption – Sport mode with high power and aggressive acceleration and top speed)

High performance Carbon-Ceramic brakes with anti lock system and constant capability, also in cold run. Calipers with 12 pistons

Special Weber alloy wheels with own center lock

Active Traction Control System

Active Aero Control, adaptive hydraulik wing, also for breaking

Active four wheel motion control

Mulitfunctional steering wheel with shiftlights and shiftpaddles

TFT- multifunction cockpit display with board computer

Remote controlled central lock system

Keyless entry functionality

Electronic window lifter

Automatic clima control

Rain Sensor

Rear view camera

Sound System with Radio / CD System

Navigation System with TMC

Anti theft device and alarm system

Height: 1'150 mm, 45.3"

Length: 4'500 mm, 177.2"

Width: 2'040 mm, 80.3"

Wheelbase: 2'900 mm, 114.2"

Dry weight 1,100 kg

Tires: Front 265 30 19" Rear 355 25 19"

4 Tanks with a Fuel capacity of 110 litres.

Weber reserves the right to change specifications without further notice.

Options: Extended Functions:

Extended board computer with timing devices and special onboard management systems for races control available like pitspeed limiter and start control

Speed control

Extended Comfort Package:


Multimedia system with internet and e-mail access

Hands free car kit for mobil phones

TV functionality

Race Package:Car prepared for full race usage. Features like:

Laptrigger for lap time measurement

On board logger with professional data analysis software

A variety of additional sensors for professional race application to determine optimum performance of aero – suspension – cooling – engine – gearbox and tyres.

Optional telemetry and radio system.

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New Renault Laguna

Renault tells us that the new Laguna 'boasts elegant lines'.

That's all well and good, but it's hard to argue when all it has shown us so far is a few snaps of various bits of the car and a video showing a heavily disguised prototype.

Still, come June 4 we'll get to see the car in its entirety and Renault is promising a big step up in quality over the outgoing model, although that wouldn't be much trouble.

As well as the teaser shots you can see here, you can also have a look at www.insidenewlaguna.com and chortle as Renault's Formula One duo Giancarlo Fisichella and Heikki Kovalainen claim to be testing the car.

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Steeda Rolls Out 600-Plus-HP Ford Shelby GT500

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. — If you can't keep all of the special-edition Mustangs straight, we can relate. Hot on the heels of the "Super Snake" packages for the 2007 and 2008 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 coupes comes the Steeda GT500, which promises 600-plus horsepower and uncompromised handling.

The "Super Snake" upgrades, an effort by Shelby Automobiles and Ford Racing, feature kits that jack up the output of the 5.4-liter V8 to 600 hp while retaining the factory engine warranty, and a non-warranty version that makes 725 horses. Steeda matches the base "Super Snake" kit with engine modifications that boost output to more than 600 hp.

Perhaps the most compelling part of the Steeda package is a new and patented Steeda coil-over suspension system, which the tuner said is "derived from over one year of research and development" and "greatly enhances aggressive performance driving without detracting from ride quality."

The Steeda package is priced at $13,995. At the very least, it will provide an interesting price comparison to the "Super Snake" kits. Ford has not yet released volume or pricing information on those kits.

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2007 Hamann BMW X5 E 70

(from Hamann Press Release) Swabian Tuning for Bavarian elegant-SAV: New BMW X5 with extensive modifications from HAMANN

• Aerodynamic parts for sportier debut
• Increase in performance for 3.0si, 3.0d and 4.8i
• Agile road handling through sport springs
• four wheel designs available in three sizes

One of the most successful cars of its class is the BMW X5. BMW only recently introduced its latest successor and HAMANN has already put together a complete program for the new X5. Hardly any area has been left untouched. Whether it’s suspension, wheels, performance, interior or aerodynamics, the Laupheim German specialists provide clear individualisation launching far above the norm

New aerodynamic components are mandatory hence HAMANN begins with a new front spoiler that lends the SAV X5 a significant powerful feature. Itґs mounted on the series-produced front apron. In back HAMANN added a rear apron seizing the design of the front spoiler to match. This component is also affixed to the series-produced parts. A further sporty accent shines through with the HAMANN roof spoiler, providing a stabilizing effect.

With such a large vehicle, every miniscule of power counts. For this reason, HAMANN reprogrammed the series-produced Motronic. The X5 3.0si received subsequently a power boost to about 14 PS/10kW and 25 Nm more torque. The X5 3.0d (with itґs basic 235 PS/173 kW) is raised by the tuners to 265 PS/ 195 kW and 600 Nm and 8-cylinder model 4.8i jumps by 18 PS/ 13 kW for more power and torque increase as well.

Not an easy choice!

Pondering over wheel choices will require the majority of customersґ time. Here are four designs of choice including PG3, Anniversary I and II as well as Edition Race.
The noble tuners from Laupheim present a multi-pieced wheel PG3 available in silver finish with high-polished flange. Itґs characterized through the sporty five-spoke design.
The one-pieced wheel Anniversary I portrays a light footing with itsґ multi-spoke design. HAMANN supplies these in silver finish with INOX stainless steel lip flange. The multi-pieced light alloy wheel Anniversary II exhibits a multi-spoke design as well projecting a feeling of pure motor sports. The silver rims with high-polished flange reflects both nobility and luxury simultaneously.
The appearance of the three-piece, ultra light forged wheels Edition Race in crossing spoke design and black wheel spider is identified through itsґ nine main spokes double-attached, branching and continually double-crossing towards the outside rim. Itsґ stirring design becomes particularly noticeable through Titan studs. The high-polished flange is icing on the cake to complete this luxurious look.

PG3 and Anniversary I are available through HAMANN for the X5 in 20 and 22-inch, Anniversary II in 22-inch and the wheel Edition Race comes in an impressive 23-inch. Naturally HAMANN offers the wheels in form of complete wheel sets.

Typical wheel / tire combinations::
Edition Race : FA/RA 10,5 Jx23 315/25R23 102Y XL
PG3: FA /RA 10,5 J x 22 295/30 ZR 22
PG3: FA/RA 9,5 J x 20 295/40 ZR 20
Anniversary II: FA/RA 10,5 J x 22 295/30 ZR 22
Anniversary I: FA/RA 10,5 J x 22 295/30 ZR 22
Anniversary I: FA/RA 10,5 J x 20 295/40 ZR 20
Anniversary I: FA/RA 10,5 J x 20 FA 275/40 ZR20 / RA 315/35 ZR 20

By using a set of progressive suspension springs, HAMANN reduces the center of gravity for the X5 . For those vehicles that have level regulation, it is lowered to about 40 mm in front, and for vehicles without level regulation or air suspension to about 40 mm in front and about 30 mm in back. Through this, the X5 receives a bit of agility back which, in contrast to itsґ predecessor model, had suffered somewhat due to its bigger size.

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Movie Mania: Dodge Drops a Hemi in Fantastic Four's "Fantasticar"

In what looks to be one of the marketing coups of the summer, Dodge announced on Tuesday that it will be featured prominently in the upcoming movie Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. The superheroes in the movie will drive the "Fantasticar," which will feature a Hemi engine and a Dodge crosshair grille.

The Fantasticar can reach speeds of up to 550 mph and an altitude of 30,000 feet. Dodge says the one-of-a-kind vehicle can separate into three sections. Each one has deployable wings and can maintain the speed and performance of the entire craft.

While you won't be able to get your hands on such a ride, Dodge says a toy Dodge Fantasticar by Hasbro is in the works. The Fantasticar will also appear in the Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer video game. The movie will hit theaters on June 15.

The Fantasticar theme also makes it way into NASCAR with the debut on May 27 of the No. 19 "Fantasticar" Dodge Charger of Elliott Sadler at the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series' Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The No. 19 car gets a paint job that showcases the ghost-like Silver Surfer shooting across the hood, while flames explode over the nose and up the fenders of the Fantasticar.

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Grand old Duke

He may have been just one of the good ol' boys, never doin' no harm, but now John Schneider is richer than even Boss Hogg's wildest dreams.

Schneider, who played Bo Duke in the Dukes of Hazzard, has just sold his very own General Lee Dodge Charger that was used in the telly series.

Auctioned on eBay, the reserve was set at $1 million and from there it jumped like one of the Duke brothers' stunts to $9.9 million (£4.95 million) when bidding closed.

Just before Schneider sold the car, he took one final drive to give a charity ride to a child with cancer.

The winning bid is yet to be confirmed, but if it's genuine it makes the General Lee the second most expensive car ever sold by auction, just behind a Bugatti Royale that reached $11 million (£5.5 million) in 1987.

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Rocket Redux: Spiritual Father of the McLaren F1 Is Back

CHIGWELL, U.K. — Gordon Murray, designer of Formula 1 racing cars for Brabham and McLaren in the 1970s and '80s, is also famous for his design of an ultra-quick, super-lightweight sports car. No, we're not talking about the McLaren F1. Before the F1 there was another exotic car from Murray: the Rocket. And it has just been re-introduced in Britain.

Chris Craft, a racer at the 24 hours of Le Mans and a sports-car collector, had a vision of a road-going racing car in the early 1970s. But it took close to 20 years to make it happen. His idea, as developed by Gordon Murray, became the Rocket, a small, open-top, cigar-shaped two-seater that weighed half as much as the original Mini. The little speedster accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 4 seconds, thanks to a 143-horsepower engine sourced from a Yamaha superbike. BBC Top Gear elected the Rocket to its list of Top 100 Fastest Cars.

Fewer than 40 units were completed before Murray decided to pursue other interests. Minimalist cars like the Rocket became surprisingly popular afterwards, notably the Ariel Atom, which is available in the U.S.

Chris Craft and his son Luke have piqued the interest of the British media with their introduction of a modern-day version of the Rocket. It's still powered by a Yamaha motorcycle engine, now bored out to 1,150cc. The combination of 170 hp with a curb weight of just 877 pounds helps deliver a top speed estimated at 140 mph.

The Rocket will cost the equivalent of about $99,500, and the company plans to make just 10 cars a year.

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Isuzu Rodeo Denver

Isuzu Motors, which has all but disappeared from the U.S. retail scene, appears to be alive and sputtering along in Europe.

From England comes word that Prodrive, the performance expert, has gussied up an Isuzu Rodeo pickup. The new Rodeo Denver Max goes on sale in June in the U.K., priced from $39,900.

The Rodeo Denver Max features the Prodrive Performance Pack, plus 18-inch shadow-chrome alloy wheels shod with 60-series Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires, a bedliner, a hard top, chrome side steps, rear step bumper, brushed-steel door entry guards and leather seats.

The performance pack boosts output on the truck's 2.5-liter turbodiesel from 136 to 167 horsepower, while torque climbs from 217 to 293 pound-feet. Its 0-60-mph acceleration time is trimmed from 12.8 to 11.7 seconds.

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2008 Porsche 911 997 Turbo Cabriolet

(from Porsche Press Release) Dr.Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, Germany, will be sending the new 911 Turbo Cabriolet to the starting line on September 8. The 20-year tradition within the 911 Series of the 911 Turbo with a classic soft top is continued with this open top model. Firstly, the open 2+2 seater offers the driving performance of a high-performance sports car while still providing convertible driving pleasure. Secondly, compared to the competition the 911 Turbo Cabriolet is economical in its fuel consumption, thanks to its deliberate design, outstanding aerodynamics and advanced engine technology

As with the 911 Turbo Coupe, the Cabriolet will also be powered by a 3.6 liter six-cylinder boxer engine with biturbo turbocharging and Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG). The powerplant already generates 480 hp (353 kW) and 620 Nm of torque at 1950 rpm. With the new, optional Sport Chrono Turbo Package, which includes an overboost function, up to 680 Nm is even intermittently possible. The manual transmission version can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just four seconds. With Tiptronic S the time can be cut to 3.8 seconds. Both versions can reach speeds of up to 310 km/h. Fuel consumption for the 911 Turbo Cabriolet is 12.9 liters per 100 kilometers an exemplary value in the competitive environment.

In spite of the convertible-specific reinforcement of the chassis and automatic and the extendable rollover protection behind the rear seats, the open version of the 911 Turbo only weighs 70 kilos more than the Coup. The light, three-layer soft top, which can completely automatically be opened or closed in roughly 20 seconds, enables a low balance point.

Together with the running gear that is tuned to convertible-specific needs, which includes the active suspension system Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) as standard equipment, the new 911 Turbo Cabriolet offers the sporting driving performance typical for a Porsche 911 as well as extremely high driving safety together with appealing driving characteristics. The driving stability control Porsche Stability Management (PSM) and the managed all-wheel drive Porsche Traction Management (PTM) also contribute to its uncommon performance. The system with an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch can, according to the requirements, alternatively shift the drive output from the engine between the front and rear axles, and with shift intervals of a maximum of 100 milliseconds quicker than the reaction of the engine to load changes.

With a drag coefficient of Cw=0.31, the 911 Turbo Cabriolet travels at the level of the coup models. Together with the rear spoiler, which automatically extends at speeds from 120 km/h extending 30 mm further than with the Coup, the vehicle is the only standard series convertible that generates negative lift at the rear axle. Along with its passive safety systems, including six airbags as standard equipment and the comprehensive rollover protection system with steel tubing integrated into the windshield frame and an extendable rollover protection behind the rear seats the 911 Turbo Cabriolet also fulfils all legal requirements for passive safety applicable in the worldwide sales markets. Furthermore, it is equipped with one the most high-performance brake systems. The six-cylinder fixed-brake caliper up front stems from the Porsche Carrera GT. Upon request, the race-proven and light Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) ceramic brake system is also available for the 911 Turbo Cabriolet.

Also included in the extensive standard series equipment of the 911 Turbo Cabriolet are Bi-Xenon headlights, 19 inch forged wheels with two-tone appearance, an air conditioner, the wind deflector, the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with the navigation module and 5.8 inch color monitor and the Bose Surround Sound System, among other things. The basic price in euro for the Turbo Cabriolet is EUR 126,600. In Germany the price is EUR 150,862 (including VAT and country-specific requirements).

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Weepy Paris Hilton Calls Jail Time for Driving Offense "Cruel"

LOS ANGELES — Paris Hilton, the club-hopping heiress, told photographers this weekend that her 45-day jail sentence for a driving-related offense is "cruel and unwarranted," according to Reuters.

The 26-year-old celebrity was sentenced on Friday after a judge ruled she violated her probation for a previous traffic offense by driving without a valid license. Her woes began last September when she was arrested for drunk driving. She pleaded no contest and was sentenced to three years' probation and had her license suspended. In February, Hilton was stopped again for driving without headlights while she was behind the wheel of her blue Bentley.

One veteran Hollywood publicist described her pending jail stint as a "career move" that "fuels the fascination," according to the Associated Press.

In the meantime, a Brooklyn art gallery is featuring "The Paris Hilton Autopsy," which shows a tiara-wearing corpse on a coroner's table as part of an effort to warn teens about the hazards of underage drinking. The display also features Tinkerbell, Hilton's pet chihuahua, in a matching tiara. Capla Kesting Fine Art is hosting a contest for teens ages 13-18 to write an obituary for Paris Hilton based on the art display and submit it to a writing contest Web site. The winner will be announced May 21. The New Zealand Herald described the effort as "a bizarre art campaign to warn against the dangers" of drunk driving.

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The bitterest pill

Imagine if The Jam reformed. The band, that is, not the fruit-based conserve. Paul Weller and the other two playing all those tight-trousered songs of late-seventies mod anger. It'd be great.

And just imagine what sort of car they'd need to transport themselves from gig to gig. It'd need to be British, no question. It'd need to be big, too - you can't have the Modfather squeezed up next to a drum kit.

So what have we got? A long wheelbase Landy Defender? Too agricultural. A Bentley Arnage, perhaps? That'd do the trick.

Well, imagine no more. The Jam are reforming. It's true. And they've been given a car for their comeback tour. And that car is... a Kia Sedona.

Seriously. If you're thinking something doesn't quite add up here, you'd be right. Sadly it's only two-thirds of The Jam on the tour - bassist Bruce Foxton and drummer Rick Buckler.

Yes, Paul Weller's missing. Are we cynical enough to draw parallels between a band with no front man and a competent Korean car with no charisma?

Of course not. It's nearly the Bank Holiday weekend. Happy holidays.

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Snake Bite: Extreme Shelby Mustang Churns Out 725 Horses

LAS VEGAS — We watched as Carroll Shelby held court in Dearborn, Michigan, last year, boldly predicting that future sports cars would be powered by engines in the 600-700—horsepower range. The automotive icon's prognostications are about to hit the street with new "Super Snake" performance packages for the 2007 and 2008 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 coupes.

The latest Super Snake models make their debut 40 years after Shelby built one GT500 Super Snake powered by a 427-cubic-inch V8 for Mel Burns Ford. As part of a tire marketing campaign, it easily reached lap speeds of 150 mph on an oval racetrack and could attain a top speed of 170 mph. Ford says the new one will be "equally potent."

Shelby puts it in more raw terms. "I told them I wanted to build a vehicle that could blow the doors off most anything on the planet," he said.

The Super Snake upgrades include a supercharger kit that jacks up the output of the 5.4-liter V8 to 600 hp and 590 pound-feet of torque, while retaining the factory engine warranty. A more extreme version makes 725 hp, although it has to do without a warranty. Other features include a six-speed manual transmission with short-throw shift linkage, a 3.73:1 rear axle ratio and a high-performance exhaust system. Shelby-designed, Alcoa-built 20-inch wheels are matched with Baer six-piston brakes that feature Shelby-signature calipers and larger rotors. Naturally there's a hood made from carbon composite with a classic Shelby design.

Shelby Automobiles will begin building a limited number of the Super Snake later this year at its facility in Las Vegas. Some of the car's hardware will also be rolled out individually in June from Shelby Automobiles and Ford Racing.

Ford spokesperson Whitney Drake said the automaker has not yet released target volume for the car or pricing information on the kits.

© Source: insideline
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Volkswagen Rolls Out Golf Variant Sportline

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The Volkswagen Jetta wagon has been missing from the U.S. lineup since 2004, but it will reappear shortly with the debut of the 2008 Jetta SportWagen in September. The Jetta SportWagen is the U.S. counterpart of the Golf Variant Sportline, which VW unveiled on Monday in Wolfsburg.

A diesel version of the 2008 Jetta SportWagen will arrive in U.S. showrooms in January, equipped with a 2.0-liter clean diesel engine that makes 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to a six-speed DSG transmission. VW of America Spokesman Keith Price said the automaker is anticipating EPA numbers of 40 mpg in city driving and 60 mpg on the highway for the diesel SportWagen. The vehicle will be available in all 50 states, marking the first time a diesel Jetta will be available nationwide since 1999, he noted. The gas-engine Jetta Sportwagen will get a 2.5-liter inline-5 that makes 170 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque and is linked to a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional five-speed automatic transmission.

Price said pricing has not yet been set for the 2008 Jetta SportWagen, but added that it is expected to cost about $1,500 more than the 2007 Volkswagen Jetta sedan, which starts at $17,130, including a $640 destination charge.

The Golf Variant Sportline, which comes with a standard panorama sunroof, will hit showrooms in Germany on June 1. It is about 6.2 inches longer than its predecessor and offers increased cargo capacity.

© Source: insideline
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Goodwood Festival

This year's Goodwood Festival of Speed reads like a Who's Who of rally stars and cars. As in "who have we seen here before, Geraldine?"

Competing on the Hannu Mikkola-designed rally stage will be the likes of Colin McRae, Petter Solberg, Stig Blomqvist and Paddy Hopkirk.

They'll be driving everything from classic Minis right up to the latest WRC machines on the Forest Stage. It's also been lengthened this year and, hold onto your Thermos now, has even had a jump added in. McRae will be driving his new R4 rally car in public for the first time at Goodwood, which takes place on 22-24 June.

Also lined up for rally action are Michele Mouton in an Audi Quattro and Russell Brookes in his Opel Manta 400. Walter Rohrl was asked, but was busy "creosoting his fence". Allegedly.

The list of rally cars reads like a bobble-hatter's dream (in the loosest sense of the word) garage and includes Mini Cooper S, Lancia Delta Integrale, Ford Escorts Mk1 and 2, Lancia Stratos, Porsche 911, MG Metro 6R4, Ford RS200, Renault 5 Maxi Turbo... you get the idea.

© Source: insideline
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