Audi R8 Spyder unveiling

The Audi R8 Spyder defines what automotive love is all about. It’s a virtual certainty that you’ll fall in love with the sound of that V10 engine when the roof is down. The car’s design doesn’t really veer far away from the original R8. It still has that simple yet elegant look but the side blades that distinguish the Audi R8 is gone and replaced by air vents. For your off-color fixation, the frame of the windshield is made of brushed aluminum. Watch out for the official unveiling of the car, with all its gorgeous details in the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show.

2011 Rolls-Royce Ghost

Rolls Royce has introduced its Ghost model at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show which made the media wow for the car’s evoking images of adventure and technical innovation. Aside from the impressive exterior and interior parts, the Ghost sports a turbocharged V12 engine which displaces 6.6-liter and cranks out 563 horsepower with a torque of 575 lb-ft. According to Rolls Royce Motor Cars CEO, the Ghost car “will be the first in a new generation of models to carry this evocative name…”.

There are no surprises in the styling, which is unchanged from the 200EX concept displayed in Geneva last March. naturally, the Ghost retains the Phantom-style coach doors (don't call them suicide in the presence of a Rolls rep) with built-in umbrellas. Inside, the Ghost carries over additional Phantom quirks, such as the "Power Reserve" gauge the driver gets in lieu of a traditional tachometer. Aside from that, this is clearly more of a driver's car than the Phantom, whose opulent backseat accommodations show that it's more about being driven in. The Ghost's steering wheel is much smaller in diameter and has a thicker rim than its big brother, and the seats appear to have more contouring for lateral support, as well.

BMW will produce Mini coupe in oxford

BMW Chairman Norbert Riethofer visit to the Mini factory in Oxford England this week to inform staff members that they will soon have two new cars to build. The first confirmed model for production is the Coupe concept that was previewed online last week ahead of its Frankfurt Motor Show rollout. The Coupe will be joined by a second concept at the show which in all likelihood will be the oft-rumored speedster version of the coupe.

Reithofer did not announce any timing for when production of the new models would start production. Also unknown at this time is whether the Coupe and Speedster will be available only in John Cooper Works form or in base Cooper and S flavors as well.

PRESS RELEASE:


MINI Frankfurt show stars confirmed for production at Plant Oxford

* 03.09.2009
* Press Release

Dr.Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management, BMW AG has announced that two new MINI models are to be built at MINI Plant Oxford.

Reithofer confirmed the production plan during his two-day visit to BMW Group UK operations earlier this week.

One of the models based on the MINI Coupé Concept and a concept of the second vehicle will be unveiled for the first time to global media at Frankfurt Motor Show on 15 September.

Images of the stunning MINI Coupé Concept were issued to press on 26 August 2009, exactly fifty years after the first classic Mini was presented to the public.

Likely to feature the impressive 1.6-litre turbocharged MINI John Cooper Works power train, the MINI Coupé Concept is designed to be the most dynamic and agile MINI ever built. Strictly a two-seater, the low roof line, compact dimensions, perfect axle load distribution and lightweight construction are all trademarks of a genuine sports car.

Details of the second model have not yet been announced.

The two new models will join the existing Hatch, Clubman and Convertibles on the production line at Plant Oxford, where all derivatives are produced seamlessly just-in-time and just-in-sequence.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: "The production of the two new MINI models is very good news for Oxford, and for the UK car industry. It is a demonstration of BMW's long term commitment to the UK as it celebrates its 50th birthday this year.

"British drivers have had a long love affair with the MINI and I'm sure that this will continue for many years to come."

Dr. Juergen Hedrich, Managing Director of MINI Plant Oxford, said: "The fact that Plant Oxford will be building these exciting new models shows the high level of flexibility of the plant and its associates. The MINI family has a bright future.

Start dates for these two new models to enter production will be confirmed in due course.

2010-New Noble M600 Pictures

2010-New Noble M600 Pictures

2010-New Noble M600-British cars are something that is so beautifully done – it truly is a work of friggin’ art and the 2010 Noble M600 is no exception at all. This beautiful car is actually one of the latest models and it is going to be one of the most powerful models on the market once it is built. While pricing is going to be high it is going to be well-worth it.Producing 485kW (650hp) from its mid-mounted, Yamaha-tuned, Volvo-sourced 4.4 litre V8 and powering to a top speed of 362km/h (225mph), it seems the wait for the M600 has been worth it.To keep things under control, the driver has a choice of three power levels. At the twist of a dial, outputs of 335kW, 410kW and 485kW are available. At the highest power setting, the M600 develops 820Nm of torque.

The engine in the 2010 Noble M600 is going to be a twin-turbo V8 that is going to produce 650 HP. The high price tag … okay, it’s about 328k US is because this particular Noble is something that is bringing a lot to the table – for example, it is constructed of stainless steel tub, tube skeleton and chassis which is then clad in carbon fiber body panels for a very, very lightweight design.The engine alone is something that is beautiful and it will get from 0 to 60 miles per hour in about 3 seconds flat!

2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing

2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing
Used an aluminium spaceframe body the SLS will come with gullwing doors that rise upwards on roof-mounted hinges, just like Mercedes’s 300SL sports car from half a century ago AMG 6.3-litre V8 front-mid engine developing 420 kW/ 571 hp peak output, 650 Nm of torque and dry sump lubrication, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission in a transaxle configuration, sports suspension with aluminium double wishbones and a kerb weight of 1620 kilograms based on the DINstandard.


Successor to the SLR in both position and alphabetical order, the SLS will supposedly be faster, cheaper and easier to love than its predecessor. Instead of aiming for the miniscule hypercar market the SLR was designed for, the SLS will battle against the cream of the crop in the roughly $200,000 range. Expect to see it facing off against everything from the Nissan GT-R to the Porsche 911 GT3 to the Ferrari F430 in both magazine comparisons and bonus-toting executives’ minds.

VW Scirocco SC 350 Tuned by Sportec

Cool Swiss car tuning specialist Sportec has turned its attention on the Volkswagen Scirocco with the release of a new performance package. Among other things, Sportec’s program consists of engine upgrades, a sports suspension, alloy wheels rims and other components.

For the Scirocco 2.0 TFSI 200HP, Sportec offers various performance optimizations that boost the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine’s output from 240HP to 350HP. In the most powerful version, the maximum torque takes a massive leap from 280 to 480Nm (354 lbs/ft).

To achieve these figures, the Swiss tuner’s engineers modified the 2.0 TFSI’s supercharger, updated the ECU and replaced the stock exhaust system with a new free flowing one. A carbon-fiber engine cover completes the package.



To improve the Scirocco’s handling, Sportec developed a new sports suspension that brings the coupe 35 mm closer to the ground while the coupe now sits on 20-inch alloy wheels shod in 245/30 high-performance sport tires. Finally, for the interior, the Swiss tuner offers a 4-part floor mat set made of soft velour and a multi-part carbon interior with the Sportec logo.

Kia Forte Koup pricing announced (U.S)

Kia USA has released full pricing on the Forte Koup. Kicking off at $17,290 ($16,595 + $695 destination fee) for the entry-level EX with a 156bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine coupled to a five speed manual gearbox.

Those looking for more power can opt for the Koup SX that comes with a 2.4-litre producing 174bhp which is mated to a 6 speed manual and has a sportier suspension set up. Prices for the SX begin from $18,390 including delivery fees.

If you prefer not to change gears manually, there's a five-speed automatic transmission that will cost you an extra $1,000 on both the EX and SX.

Mazda3 MPS pricing announced (UK)

Mazda UK has announced pricing for the all-new Mazda3 MPS that goes on sale Thursday 1st October. The hot hatch is being marketed in the UK in a single trim level with pricing set at £21,500 OTR including mica or metallic paint finish.

Based on the second generation Mazda3, the 3 MPS is powered by a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-pot that makes 260bhp and 380Nm or 280 lb-ft of torque and drives the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. The Japanese firm announces a 0 to 62mph sprint time of 6.1seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.

Standard features include Bluetooth technology, surround-sound BOSE premium audio system with 10 speakers w/ steering wheel mounted audio controls, front bucket sports seats, electrically adjustable/heated and folding door mirrors, xenon headlamps, MID (multi information display) with a compact satellite navigation system that uses a high-resolution 11cm (4.1 inch) screen mounted in the dashboard's upper section and automatic dual zone climate control air conditioning.

GM - The Volt isn't a car for idiots

General Motors has responded to Audi of America’s boss Johan de Nysschen’s claims that the Chevrolet Volt was “a car for idiots”.

Speaking to veteran American journalist Lawrence Ulrich, de Nysschen said that few customers will be prepared to pay the estimated £24,500 asking price for the Volt, which will go on sale in Europe as the Vauxhall/Opel Ampera.

"No one is going to pay a $15,000 (£9,000) premium for a car that competes with a Toyota Corolla,” said de Nysschen. "So there are not enough idiots who will buy it."

In response, GM spokesman Rob Peterson claimed the firm was surprised he had chosen to insult fellow car enthusiasts.

“Very surprised Mr de Nysschen was so quick to insult the intelligence of electric vehicle and Volt enthusiasts,” he said. “Not so surprised that Audi is taking a bold stance given their entrenched diesel position. EVs will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and tailpipe emissions – if that's being "hoodwinked by our government" then count me in.”

De Nysschen has apologised if he had been "unclear" about the fact that he isn’t opposed to electric vehicles, and said he didn't remember specifically saying the Volt is a car "idiots". Audi will unveil its own electric car concept at the Frankfurt motor show next week.

In related news, the forthcoming Vauxhall/Opel Ampera is likely to cost around £24,500 when it goes on sale in the UK in the first quarter of 2012.

Opel’s managing director Hans Demant made the claims in an interview with a Swiss news outlet, Tages-Anzeiger. Demant claimed that for the Ampera to be a commercial success, it must not cost more than a fully-specced Vauxhall Zafira with automatic transmission. The range-topping Zafira SRi 1.9 CDTi costs just shy of £25,500 when equipped with an auto’ box in the UK. This gives a hint as to how much the Ampera will cost when it goes on sale.

Cool Ford Sedan Pictures

A cool collection of Ford Sedan pictures. This cool example has been beautifully modded. Check these pictures out.

2010.-The New Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

2010.-The New Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Porsche has unveiled the new 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup which is based on the newly unveiled 911 GT3 RS version. The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup engine capacity is up by 0.2 litres over the former model, engine output is 30 bhp more than before. The most important facts and figures: 3.8-litre six-cylinder horizontally-opposed. The GT3 Cup car features the same wide body in the back, the same sheet metal up front and the same 3.8 Liter flat six as the beefed up GT3 for the street, however in order to create a competitive machine the Porsche fabricators apply the same lightweight thinking that is in the RS but this time with a racing car. So the Cup car receives a few race specific items like a rear wing carried over from last year’s International FIA GT3 car, an all new exhaust that accentuates the burble of the boxer engine while responsibly controlling emissions at the same time. The Cup car comes standard with the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes that drop over 40 pounds from the weight of the car, and because it is a race car there is even more adjustability built into the suspension.

2009- New Scion iQ Concept Cars

2009-The new Scion iQ Concept car. Scion IQ concept is a new city car with a revolutionary package, which is not more than 10 feet in length and consists of three Storage Plus. Five Axis in Huntington Beach, California, took IQ to the next level with the external aggression and internal changes, which show the potential of the vehicle for customization. Scion IQ comes with a 78.7-inch step, three-door hatchback can skillfully maneuver in the urban stream. At the same time, its overall length of 126.9 inches, overall width of 71.4 inches, and front and short rear overhang allows the IQ, to fit into any citizen of the park. Located in the front differential and pinion steering repositioned decrease the length of the foreground. In addition, IQ has a gas tank located under the floor of the plane, which reduces the rear overhang. Finally this car is a high performance and high technology.

Audi USA president; Johan de Nysschen - The Volt is for idiots (U.S)

Audi of America president, Johan de Nysschen has dismissed General Motors Chevrolet Volt as "a car for idiots".

Speaking to veteran American journalist Lawrence Ulrich, de Nysschen said that few customers will be prepared to pay the estimated £25,000 asking price for the Volt, which will go on sale in Europe as the Vauxhall/Opel Ampera.

"No one is going to pay a $15,000 (£9,000) premium for a car that competes with a Toyota Corolla,” said de Nysschen. "So there are not enough idiots who will buy it."

De Nysschen, a long-time advocate of diesel power, admitted that plug-in hybrids are good in concept and hold advantages over diesels in stop-and-go driving. However, he maintained that electric cars are more about making a statement at present.

“They’re for the intellectual elite who want to show what enlightened souls they are,” he said.

De Nysschen concluded by saying that the Volt will fail to sell and the Government will be forced to subsidise it and boost sales, having forced GM to develop electric cars.

However, De Nysschen said in his defence:

“Let me clearly state that in my opinion, electric vehicles will be part of the future transportation of society – but only if we go about it the right way. In fact, Audi is working on electric vehicles," he said."

De Nysschen also apologised if he had been "unclear" about the fact that he isn’t opposed to electric vehicles, and said he didn't remember specifically saying the Volt is a car "idiots".

Car sales rise, city-car sales rise by 253% (UK)

With car sales rising 2.4% in July, August car sales rose 6% compared with the same month last year. The increase is the second consecutive monthly rise, after more than a year of decline in vehicle sales. Industry figures revealed that 67,006 new cars were registered during August.

The scrappage scheme is widely accepted to have prompted the boost in sales since its introduction in May. However, the scheme is expected to run out of cash by the end of the year. Most buyers have been waiting out for the '59' plate change, which changes this month. September generally yields 5 times as many sales as August. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' (SMMT) chief executive Paul Everitt said: 'The scrappage incentive scheme is having a positive impact, but with consumer and business confidence still fragile, there remain significant risks ahead.

However, the figures from the SMMT also revealed that total sales for the year so far are still 21.5% lower than for the same period last year.

'It is essential that these early signs of recovery are sustained into 2010.'

The top 10 best-selling cars for August were as follows:

1) Ford Focus - 4,366

2) Ford Fiesta - 2,968

3) Hyundai i10 - 2,431

4) Vauxhall Corsa - 2,031

5) Volkswagen Golf - 1,832

6) Peugeot 207 - 1,558

7) BMW 3 Series - 1,482

8) Vauxhall Astra - 1,355

9) Vauxhall Insignia - 1,334

10) Toyota Yaris - 1,331

The worst performers in August were:

1) Saab -91.48%

2) Bentley -75.51%

3) Lotus -58.82%

4) Porsche -43.7%

5) Jeep -36.96%

Germany has ended its scrappage scheme, but is expected to offer tax incentives instead. France will extend it's scrappage scheme until 2011, to avoid plunging car sales. The UK Government has no intention of expanding, despite the fragile state of the car industry. However, pressure from automotive magazines, car manufactures and consumers could see it expanded.