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Hot News: Jaguar XF Estate
2009-03-26 06:02:00
The XF is going XL! Jaguar is poised to expand its range with an estate version of the award-winning XF saloon at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.There’s been no shortage of new metal from the Coventry-based firm of late, with hot R versions of both the XF and XK breaking cover, as well as the new high-performance XF Diesel S. And the family is set to grow further when the wagon joins the fray. Auto Express has learned that the car at Frankfurt will be a thinly disguised production model, albeit referred to as a concept. And if the reaction from the public is sufficiently positive, it could arrive in dealers here next spring.Whispers of an estate variant have been circulating since very early in the XF’s development. It was always the plan for a more family oriented version to be the first new bodystyle spawned from the XF’s platform.With the saloon proving a sales hit, as well as winning numerous awards – including Auto Express’s Car of the Year title – the Britis...
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Unofficial Picture: 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe
2009-03-26 05:57:00
These scoop pictures show a virtually undisguised Cadillac CTS Coupe undergoing testing.It closely resembles the CTS Coupe concept car that was unveiled at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, including the distinctive central twin exhaust.Reports suggest that the coupe will have a touchpad access system rather than traditional door handles, as well as a reversing camera because of its restricted rear visibility.Other design touches include Cadillac hallmarks such as the distinctive front grille and wheels. Only the front end appears to have been toned down from the concept car's, to fall in line with the CTS saloon’s look.This car appears to be a base model, powered by a 300+bhp 3.6-litre V6.The CTS Coupe has endured a troubled run to production, after having its launch (originally scheduled for last November’s LA motor show) put back as GM tried to tackle its cash crisis.Predicted to be a low-volume seller, the Cadillac was pushed back to conserve cash reserves as GM put the finishing...
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New Concept Car: Mercedes F-Cell
2009-03-26 05:51:00
Even before being designated full-blown Mercedes -Benz trained professionals, students at the automaker's Sindelfingen plant have used their skills to develop an alternative powered vehicle called the F-Cell Roadster. A team of 150 trainees from mechatronics, model-building, electronics, coating technology, manufacturing mechanics, product design, and interior appointments conceptualized, developed, and constructed the hydrogen fuel-cell powered show car. Their objective was to integrate alternative drive systems into their larger Mercedes-Benz training program.If you didn't already surmise, inspiration for the roadster comes from the 1886 Benz Patent Motor Car. As such, it sports mammoth spoke wheels and a slight build, but incorporates contemporary materials and technologies like carbon fiber bucket seats, a fiberglass front end, drive-by-wire controls, and of course, a hydrogen-powered drivetrain. The young crew claims the F-Cell Roadster has a 217-mile range and can hit a top s...
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New Concept Car: Hyundai Blue-Will
2009-03-25 15:30:00
This is the Hyundai Blue -Will, a plug-in hybrid concept revealed ahead of its debut at the Seoul motor show in Korea next week.The Hyundai Blue-Will show car uses a non-turbocharged version of the 1.6-litre direct-injection petrol engine first seen in the Hyundai ix-onic concept at this year’s Geneva show. It's coupled to a 100kW electric motor and the power is fed through a CVT gearbox.Electric power is stored in a lithium ion polymer battery back which features battery technology similar to that used in the new Korean-market Hyundai Elantra hybrid, a first for this type of energy storage in a mass-production vehicle.The Blue-Will concept also uses bio-plastics derived from plant material for the engine cover and parts of the interior, while its headlamp bezels are made from recycled plastic. The sunroof is also a solar panel that helps to power the car’s ancillary electric systems.A spokesman for Hyundai said, “All the technology behind the Blue-Will concept is viable and, ...
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Hot News: Audi Getting Ready to Unleash RS3
2009-03-25 15:23:00
Is the fastest A3 ever on the way? It seems likely, as Audi development boss Michael Dick has given a strong hint that the best-selling hatch could be in line to receive the legendary RS makeover.Only weeks after the German manufacturer unveiled its flagship TT-RS at the Geneva Motor Show, it looks as though a performance flagship version of the smallest model in the line-up could be added.It would be the first time the RS badge is offered on the compact hatchback A3 – at present, the range-topping variant is the S3, powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine. To give it the step up in pace required, the RS3 would take power from the same 2.5-litre, five-cylinder turbo unit as in the TT-RS. This delivers a staggering 340bhp and 450Nm of torque to all the tyres via the firm’s quattro 4WD transmission.It would enable the Audi to complete the 0-62mph sprint in around five seconds and hit a top speed of 155mph – figures that would make it one of the fastest hot hatches on the road...
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Sneak Peek: 2011 Mercedes E63 AMG
2009-03-24 16:09:00
Mercedes has given a sneak preview of the new E63 AMG ahead of its expected unveiling at the New York motor show on April 10.The picture shows standard hot AMG detailing, with an aggressive nose treatment and large five-spoke alloys covering uprated brakes.The car is expected to be powered by a 518bhp 6.2-litre V8 and will cost 80,000 euros (£73,000) in Germany.Thanks to: Autocar
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Spied: 2011 Mazda 1
2009-03-24 15:56:00
Here’s ‘1’ for the album! These exclusive spy shots are the first to show just how far Mazda ’s plans to launch a new city car have come.Based on the Kiyora concept car first shown at the Paris Motor Show in 2008, the innovative machine is due to hit the road in 2011 - and this test mule is the makers first step along the path to its launch. Though based on a ‘2’ this test car has a short wheelbase, and a dummy bonnet. It also features differently shaped taillights and headlamps, and shorter rear doors. We also spotted a differently shaped and placed fuel filler cap and a different rear hatch. And that’s not all!Under the skin, there’s a 1.3-litre direct-injection petrol engine, with a Smart Idle Stop System (SISS) that automatically shuts down and restarts the engine as required. The unit is mated to a newly developed six-speed automatic transmission system which boasts similar fuel efficiency as a manual system. Putting these technologies together limits CO2 emissio...

New Car: 2010 Mazda CX-9
2009-03-22 13:01:00
Along with showing a revised 2010 Mazda CX-7 crossover and new 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 at the New York auto show, the Japanese automaker also will be debuting an updated CX-9 crossover with a new front fascia, an improved interior, and what the company says are better driving dynamics.Now, we’ve grown quite fond of our long-term CX-9 over the past year, with many a staffer praising how its practicality and design blend with a sure-footed composure on the road. While we don’t yet have all the details for the new 2010 model, improved safety systems, more options, and more driving enjoyment all are welcome additions. What’s more, the CX-9’s revised nose adopts the company’s flowing design language as seen on the 2009 Mazda 6 sedan, RX-8 coupe, and MX-5 Miata roadster. The flagship crossover also gets a new split-five-spoke wheel design to accompany its freshened, chrome-ringed mug. Stay tuned for more detailed updates as the New York show draws near.

AmericanMuscle.com - I Can Draw Mustang Contest
2009-03-20 16:24:00
Have Your Kids Draw Your Mustang and Win A Cervinis Lil C500! So you think you can draw? Too bad! Cause this contest is for the kids! And for once we are talking about actual kids, and not just those of us that are kids at heart. This month the AmericanMuscle.com contest will tempt to get the entire family involved. Not only will this contest require the elder Stang enthusiasts involvement, but it will also require the participation of some of our younger followers. And what better way to get your son(s), daughter(s), nephew(s), niece(s), grandkid(s), neighbors kid(s), to put their "artistic" skills to the test, then by drawing a picture of your Mustang. You might ask yourself, how will I get these kids to help and why would they want to do such a thing? Because we are giving away a Cervinis Lil-C500 Mustang PowerWheels that's why! To check out more information on the contest, check out the American Muscle Blog. Instructions for submitting your entry are also there.
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Hot News: 2012 Audi R2
2009-03-18 16:10:00
Could this be the car that finally cements Audi ’s reputation as the world’s greatest sports car manufacturer?Not content with shaking up the automotive order among the likes of the Porsche 911 and Aston Martin V8 Vantage with its stunning R8, the company is now planning a new mid-engined model to take on the Porsche Boxster and Mercedes SLK.The high-performance two-seater cabriolet is codenamed R2, and is being developed with VW. Audi’s sister firm is also believed to be putting the finishing touches to a production version of the BlueSport concept car revealed at the 2009 Detroit Motor Show.The mid-engined R2 gets an all-new chassis and suspension derived from the MkV VW Golf. A four-wheel-drive variant is also a possibility, using a development of the Golf R32’s Haldex system. Plus, there are rumours that a hybrid – with electric power driving the front wheels – is planned, to help Audi reduce the CO2 emissions of its range.The engine line-up is certain to include a mi...
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Hot News: Toyota MR2 Sets to Return as Prius Coupe?
2009-03-18 15:56:00
The MR2 is making a comeback, Auto Express can reveal. Toyota is developing an exciting performance hybrid which would revive the much loved sports car and rival Honda’s upcoming CR-Z. It’s set to swap its predecessor’s roadster shape for that of a compact coupé. Under the skin will be a rear-wheel-drive chassis, a paddleshift gearbox and a specially developed version of the Prius ’s hybrid powertrain. The new model will boast an amazing blend of performance, economy and low emissions, all wrapped up in a stunning body. It would be a fitting successor to the MR2, which ceased production in 2007. Speaking exclusively to Auto Express at the Geneva Motor Show, Toyota executive vice president Masatami Takimoto said: “We are aware of the fondness with which the MR2 is held in the UK and Europe, and are developing a small hybrid sports car. “We have set a tough price point (expected to be around £20,000), as it will be easier to sell if it is affordable. It has to be fun to d...
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New Concept Car: Ssangyong C200
2009-03-17 15:25:00
Ssangyong is to show a near production-ready version of its upcoming C200 crossover at next month's Seoul motor show.The C200 will be the first of a new generation of Ssangyong vehicles to use a monocoque body and is likely to form the basis for future models.The Giugiaro designed C200 is similar in size to the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CRV, but Ssangyong hopes it will provide a more affordable alternative in the burgeoning crossover sector. Power for the show car comes from a 173bhp 2.0-litre diesel unit that is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. A manual option is likely to be made available when the car is launched.The company will also unveil a new diesel hybrid version of the Kyron at the show. Ssangyong claims recent tests show it is around 25 per cent more fuel efficient than similarly sized competitors.Both cars will be on display at the Seoul motor show on 2 April.Thanks to: Autocar
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Hot News: Mini Spirit Returns
2009-03-17 15:07:00
We’ve uncovered a bold plan by the British car maker to develop a new family of city cars, including a zero emission flagship powered by an advanced electric engine. Though exact details remain scarce, it’s believed that the ultra efficient model line up will also offer drivers fuel sipping petrol engines as MINI owner BMW seeks to build an army of green machines aimed at beating tough legislation on CO2 and other gas emissions due in 2012.Set to hit the road as early as 2011, it’s been confirmed to Auto Express that the top-secret machine is being developed alongside two new models from a joint venture between Fiat and BMW that’s tipped to mark the return of the famous BMW Isetta and Topolino nameplatesAimed at a fast growing family of soon to be launched rivals – including Volkswagen’s Up! and a new family of small electric cars from French maker Reanult, MINI is promising to return to its roots with a lightweight model the promises to be every bit as innovative as the...
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Spied: 2011 Kia Amanti
2009-03-17 14:50:00
After years of fighting for recognition, Kia has been on a roll over the past few months with several hit product introductions and appears poised to keep up the pace through 2009. Today, we've received a fresh batch of spy shots, this time of the Kia Amanti replacement.Currently known only by its "VG" internal designation, our spy photographers tell us that the Amanti replacement you see here is both longer and wider than the current car. Word is that it will be a luxury sedan with a premium interior aimed at the Volkswagen Passat CC and other luxury and premium European sedans. The VG is reportedly built on Kia's new FWD platform that also underpins the Azera/Grandeur. Reports indicate that a prototype 3.5L V-6 mated to an automatic transmission is lurking under the heavily-camouflaged hood and that it may be paired to an all wheel-drive system. Rumor has it Haldex provided just such a system to Kia for study, and it may well have found its way into this prototype.Not much can b...

Spied: 2011 GMC Terrain
2009-03-17 14:44:00
We will admit to a fair amount of skepticism concerning the necessity of the GMC Terrain seen here. One frequently cited culprit of GM’s past quality-control problems is badge engineering, or the practice of building different versions of the same vehicle for multiple brands. The premier example is the Chevrolet TrailBlazer and its multitude of badge-engineered clones, which even the internet does not afford us the space to list.The practice seems to be slowly sneaking back into vogue. The full-size Chevrolet Traverse is the fourth vehicle to be built on the General’s excellent Lambda platform. Likewise, the GMC Terrain will be the fourth vehicle to be built on the TE small-SUV architecture, following the Saturn Vue, Chevrolet Equinox, and Cadillac SRX.GM today is less blatant about its badge engineering, with differences in appearance extending beyond just grilles and headlamps to the point that each vehicle wears wholly unique sheetmetal over similar underpinnings. Still, four...

Sneak Peek: AcuraSporty Crossover
2009-03-17 14:36:00
This teaser image showed up in our electronic inbox this morning from Acura, accompanied only by the word “INTRIGUE” (emphasis and capitalization theirs). If it is what we think it is—namely a sporty crossover coupe in the style of BMW’s X6—intrigue is probably an appropriate word. Four more teasers surfaced courtesy of an Acurazine forum member who located the extra shots hidden on Acura’s own media site. Consider any intrigue heightened. As we hypothesized when it was spied last fall, the vehicle will likely use MDX underpinnings and feature Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system. Power could come from the biggest V-6 in Acura’s lineup, the 305-hp 3.7-liter found in the TL. The now-mythical, on-again/off-again Acura V-8 would likely make an appearance if it were to ever become reality.From the overhead view, we can see four doors—the rearmost with hidden handles—and a hatchback roofline. Protruding headlights and taillights are complemented by bulging fr...
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Hot News: 2014 Audi S4 and S5
2009-03-14 15:53:00
The current Audi S5 coupe is gorgeous, fast, and luxurious, but at over 3800 pounds, it’s not dainty. And the upcoming 2010 S5 cabriolet will weigh about 4300 pounds—more than a lot of mid-size SUVs—so forgive us for thinking Audi product planners were being intentionally ironic when they spoke at the car’s launch about their green philosophy and success in downsizing. They conveniently neglected to mention weight and focused on their powertrain strategy: a far more efficient supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 replaces the naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V-8 in the S5 cabriolet and S4 sedan for 2010, with the S5 coupe getting the new engine for 2011. These cars are claimed to achieve the same acceleration as the V-8 models while using 20 percent less fuel.Still, any idiot knows you can only get so far with engine downsizing in a performance car that weighs more than two tons. So we sat down with Michael Dick, Audi's global head of product engineering, and asked him about how he squar...
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New Car: 2010 Lamorghini Murcielago LP650-4 Roadster
2009-03-14 15:50:00
Knowing that Lamborghini can squeeze an extra 29 hp from its 6.5-liter V-12 for the lightweight, limited-edition LP670-4 SuperVeloce, it’s not surprising that the Italian automaker can give its flagship Murciélago a milder upgrade to keep its customers hungry. The new LP650-4 roadster has been granted such a promotion, gaining nine additional horsepower for a total of 641. Torque output will remain the same, though, at 487 lb-ft.Aside from the minor engine tweaking, the new model—limited to only 50 examples—is set apart from the lesser Murciélago LP640 roadster by a unique Grigio Telesto exterior design. The gray bodywork is accented by a special orange-painted lip spoiler and side-sills, along with similar bold touches to the brake calipers and badging.Black Alcantara covers the driver’s portion of the dash, door panel, and center tunnel, while the co-pilot must make do with only fine-leather trimmings. Orange paddle shifters direct the e-gear six-speed automated manual t...
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Hot News: 2012 Lotus Evora Convertible
2009-03-12 16:48:00
The Evora is looking to put the wind up its rivals! Lotus has confirmed that the fixed roof version – already in production and scheduled to go on sale on May 2 – will be joined by a convertible in 2011.Similar to its less-luxurious mid-engined sibling the Elise, the Evora convertible is likely to feature a removable fabric panel that can be left at home when the weather allows. This does away with the need for expensive and a heavy electric folding mechanism, meaning it should be every bit as sharp to drive as the hard-top. The extruded and bonded Aluminium chassis will be stiffened too, to compensate for the absence of a roof and keep body flex to a minimum. Behind the occupant’s heads is the same Toyota-derived 3.5-litre V6, tuned to produce 276bhp. Performance will be scintillating with the 0-62mph sprint dispatched in around five seconds and a top speed of 160mph. But if that’s not enough to get your pulse racing don’t worry – rumours suggest that as well as the con...
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Hot News: Range Rover LRX
2009-03-12 16:45:00
It’s three of a kind for Range Rover with news of a new baby - due to make its debut next year.Based on the popular LRX concept first shown at the 2008 Detroit Motor Show, the new model is tipped to join Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models in showrooms in 2011.No official name has been revealed, and at present, the car is reffered to simply as the Range Rover Compact.Land Rover’s Managing Director, Phil Popham said, "It would be the smallest, lightest and most efficient Range Rover that we've ever built,""The compact size, lighter weight and sustainability-focused technologies of the LRX Concept showed how Land Rover is planning to respond to the needs of a changing world.“Despite the current economic challenges, we remain committed to investing for the future, to continue to deliver relevant vehicles for our customers, with the outstanding breadth of capability for which we are world-renowned."The new models development is being backed by a £27 million government grant...
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Spied: 2011 Opel Corsa SUV
2009-03-12 16:40:00
It looks like the Corsa is rising to the occasion! These are the best spy shots yet of the Luton-based firm's new small 4x4, which we've snapped undergoing testing in the Arctic Circle.Based on the Corsa’s underpinnings, but with a jacked-up ride height and a four-wheel drive system, the new model will go into battle with the forthcoming MINI Crossman and Skoda's recently-unveiled Yeti in the emerging supermini SUV segment. And as you can see from the wheelbase on this Meriva-based prototype the new model will be roughly the same size as the supemini MPV.Entering a totally new market for Vauxhall, the Corsa SUV will be powered by a wide range of small capacity turbocharged petrol and diesel engines and just like the Yeti, will be available in both front-wheel drive and 4x4 form.Expect the styling to feature muscular wheelarches, to accommodate a widened track and traditional SUV cues such as roof rails and plastic protective bumpers for a more rugged appearance. Although that c...
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Hot News: Diesel Cooper Works on Way
2009-03-12 16:34:00
The adventure never ends with MINI, and it’s about to take a surprise turn... Auto Express can exclusively reveal that the firm plans to introduce greater economy and efficiency to its JCW hot hatch by swapping its turbo petrol engine for a diesel!The famous British marque pulled the covers off its new JCW Convertible at the Geneva Motor Show, and once the hot Clubman joins the line-up in July, the petrol-powered performance range will be complete. However, the firm’s plans are only just beginning.The JCW diesel would use the Cooper D’s powerplant, but it will stay true to its performance car heritage. The 1.6-litre unit currently produces 110bhp and 240Nm, while a hot version would deliver more than 160bhp and significantly increased torque.During an interview with a senior engineer, we posed the question of whether diesel power would ever be an option for the JCW brand. He wouldn’t confirm the existence of an oil-burning variant, but commented that it would be a “good id...
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Spied: 2011 Buick 'Cruze'
2009-03-12 16:24:00
Our intrepid spy shooters are at it again, this time in Sweden where they've staked out this heavily camouflaged vehicle testing near a GM facility. It seems clear to us that the sedan is based on the Chevrolet Cruze, but a close look at the semi-covered, slatted grille has us thinking that this could be a prototype of a Buick version. If this vehicle is indeed a Cruze-based baby Buick built GM's Delta II architecture, it will likely be targeted at the Chinese market, where Buick is a top-selling brand. Before it makes it way to our shores in 2010, the Chevrolet Cruze (check out our first drive of the European Cruze here) is slated to begin hitting showrooms in the UK and mainland Europe later this year and is being billed as a Ford Focus fighter. The Cruze is expected to undercut a comparably-equipped Focus by some 4000 pounds in England. If this is indeed a Cruze-based Buick, it could be built at GM's plant in Russelsheim, Germany for world markets, while U.S.-spec versions cou...

Hot News: New Subaru Legacy for New York Motor Show
2009-03-11 16:20:00
Subaru will unveil its next-generation Legacy at the New York motor show in April, according to sources in Japan.Subaru gave us a good idea of how the new model will look when it unveiled the Legacy Concept, a silver 3.6-litre four-wheel-drive saloon, at the Detroit show in January. It then reappeared at the recent Geneva show.New York will be the first time that the production version of the Legacy, its fifth generation, will be seen in public. It may be just another taster, however; Subaru is likely to wait until this summer before launching the full line-up – saloon, estate and Outback – in Japan.Europe is likely to see the new Legacy at September’s Frankfurt show.The next Legacy is a crucial car for struggling Subaru; it is the firm’s biggest bread-winner, with its highest margins, so its fortunes will play a key role in the manufacturer’s bid to survive the global recession.Thanks to: Autocar
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Hot News: Smart ForTwo Ready to Grow
2009-03-11 14:45:00
The Smart ForTwo is growing – and here’s the picture to prove it! Auto Express has learned that Mercedes is planning to add a pair of rear doors and extra seats to its famous city car.Doubling the Smart’s carrying capacity to four people, the new variant will give the range some added practicality, letting it compete with an upcoming raft of desirable small cars such as Audi’s A1 and BMW’s Isetta. No name has yet been give to the newcomer, but it’s likely to carry the ForTwo +2 tag, indicating that it’s very much an addition to the ForTwo line-up.As you can see from this illustration, the new model is near identical to the two-seater, apart from a pair of neatly integrated small rear doors. These reverse-hinged units give access to two individual chairs in the back. Underneath the skin, the car features the same rear-wheel-drive layout as the regular ForTwo with the engine under the boot floor, but with a stretched wheelbase giving extra legroom.It’s hoped that the n...
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Hot News: GM Would Sell Opel to Save it
2009-02-28 13:24:00
General Motors is willing to give up as much 50 per cent of its stake in Opel if it helps its subsidiary to agree a rescue deal with the German government.Opel needs €3.3bn (£2.9bn) in aid and loans to stay in business, according to company boss Carl-Peter Forster. Reports say that Opel is talking to the Spanish and UK governments, as well as the German Federal government, about aid.Opel’s management has concluded that it needs to become semi-detached from GM in order to convince EU governments to underwrite bailout loans.GM has owned Opel since 1929 but reports suggest that if the firm does become semi-independent, it may have to start paying license fees to GM for the use of the new Epsilon 2 and Delta platforms, as well as engine technology.Opel says it can begin repaying the loans by 2014, after returning to profitability in 2011. The company cannot survive without funds from owner General Motors, but these have come to a halt as the US giant struggles to stay solvent. Amer...
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Hot News: Ferrari Readies Two New 599 XX and 599 HGTE
2009-02-28 13:19:00
In a surprise move, Ferrari will reveal not one but two modified versions of the front-engined 599 GTB Fiorano at Geneva. To sharpen up the V12 super-coupe’s responses further, a Handling GT Evoluzione (HGTE) package will be offered as an aftermarket addition or a factory-fit option.Details are scarce at this point but enhancements are likely to include more track-focused rubber, lighter alloys, stiffened suspension and lashings of carbon-fibre in the cabin. A new triple-layer metallic Rosso paint job will help mark it out from the standard model, although the monster 612bhp engine should remain untouched.Even more intriguing though is the 599XX – an experimental prototype stuffed with Ferrari’s latest F1 technology. Unfortunately only a handful of select customers will be invited to drive the vehicle, designed to help research future road-cars. For more details click here.Thanks to: Auto Express
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New Car: 2010 Vauxhall Astra and Corsa VX Racing SE
2009-02-28 13:16:00
Vauxhall is revving up for the 2009 BTCC season with a pair of race-inspired special editions. Both the Corsa and Astra VXR have received a makeover in celebration of Vauxhall’s unprecedented success in the 2008 championship, where it scooped the drivers’, manufacturers’ and team trophies.Known as the Corsa and Astra VX Racing Editions, each is finished in red and black – Vauxhall’s team colours – and gain full leather Recaros as standard. Other additions include tinted rear glass, black rear diffusers and VX Racing logos on the B-pillars and scuff plates. To finish the look off there’s a set of gloss black alloys – 18-inch for the Corsa, 19-inch for the Astra.And finally, to ensure they don’t just look like touring cars, but sound like them too, an optional Remus exhaust system can be added for £410 on the Corsa and £720 on the Astra – boosting power by up to 19bhp. A combined run of just 888 models will be produced – coinciding with the name of Triple Eight...
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New Concept Car: Magna Steyr Mila
2009-02-28 12:51:00
Adding another economical vehicle to the long line forming at the Geneva Motor Show, Magna Steyr will debut its Mila EV concept, Automotive News reports. The Austrian parts supplier and automobile manufacturer doesn’t plan to sell the vehicle as shown, but intends to use the Mila as a sales piece for its technology expertise.Magna, which produces the BMW X3 and Chrysler 300C, designed the Mila with flexibility in mind. As a result, the chassis allows for multiple powertrains and drive configurations. In Geneva trim, a 67-hp electric motor powers the four-door hatchback to a range of just below 100 miles. Its lithium-ion battery recharges in just 2.5 hours.
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Spied: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe
2009-02-28 12:47:00
Relax, Cadillac fans. As we surmised, General Motors’ decision to shutter its High-Performance Vehicle Operations will not leave the highly anticipated V-badged CTS coupe stillborn. While the Detroit automaker’s financial problems have pushed the shapely two-door CTS’s rollout back a year to 2010, as well as prompted the discontinuation of the XLR roadster, these spy images reveal that the car’s development has progressed substantially since we last saw a camouflaged mule running around last summer.Photographed in near-production form (notice the tape over the V-series badges), this CTS-V coupe clearly displays the bulging bodywork, wire mesh grille, bigger brakes, and larger wheels and tires of the current V-series CTS sedan. Also visible are dual center-exiting exhaust pipes, which are expected to expel gases from the same 556-hp, 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 found in the four-door. Six-speed manual and automatic transmissions and a more-sporting interior will be part of the...
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