First footage of BMW Product Navigator using Microsoft Surface

We can think of worse things to do than spend a day at a BMW dealership configuring the vehicle of our choice. To make the experience of selecting the Ultimate Driving Machine even more engaging, BMW and Microsoft have teamed up on futuristic touchscreen tech. BMW's Product Navigator is like the iPhone, only supersized and on steroids, and it proves that the inventive types at Microsoft are alive and well. Hit the jump to view BMW's new Product Navigator in action. The tabletop touchscreen interface enables users to pick a BMW, modify colors and content, and even save the finished project to a thumb drive to take home with them. As customers configure their vehicle on the Product Navigator, a plasma TV on the wall displays video and specs of that exact vehicle.

Audi TT-RS headed to Geneva Motor Show

Audi-philes have even more reason to rejoice now that news comes in of an imminent TT-RS launch next March at the Geneva Motor Show. The standard-fare TT offers plenty of punch, and the TT-S spices things up a bit with a high-pressure version of Audi/VW's 2.0L forced-induction four banger. Sometimes, way too much is, ya know... just enough, and for speed freaks, Audi has apparently green-lighted an ultra-hot version as well. The RS will bring the vaunted inline-five engine configuration back under the hood of an Audi, and it's a turbocharged unit derived from the mill that normally sees duty in Jettas and Golfs. If that doesn't sound like a good enough bloodline, think of it as half of Lamborghini's V10. With as much as 340 ponies corraled through a six-speed gearbox and quattro all-wheel drive, expect the TT-RS to be hottest four-ringer this side of an R8.

[Source: Car and Driver]

ABT Scirocco heads to Essen

So, the Essen Motor Show is coming up. For those of you unaware, it's basically a Euro SEMA. All the tuners will be there, showing off stuff that's both decent and dreadful, proving that yes, Europeans can do bad taste as well as anyone this side of the Atlantic. ABT is entirely capable of serving up either dish, but in the case of their Scirocco, they manage to stay on the better side of decent. You know the drill: body kit, wheels, suspension, brakes. They have power upgrades, too -- bumping the wee 1.4 TSI to 200 horses, and the 2.0 TSI to 240. Unfortunately, a look 'round back indicates that this whole stacked-tailpipes thing recently adopted by Lexus and Ferrari is on its way to becoming a fad. We love this shade of green, which looks to be the same as that used on the original VW IROC concept, but ABT's car wins because it doesn't have a face that looks like it was inspired by something on a Pokemon card.

[Source: ABT Sportsline]

Car Show Girls

Pictures of sexy car show girls from different car shows from around the UK.

Hot News: Lamborghini Estoque to Share Platform with Audi A7

More details are emerging on the Lamborghini Estoque four-door set to debut in 2011 or 2012. Lamborghini insists the aggressive sedan is still only under consideration, but company insiders tell us Sant’Agata is already preparing the car for production. The only obstacle is a strategic review of the entire Volkswagen Group's future vehicle portfolio, currently being carried out by Porsche, VW's majority shareholder.
A conservative sales estimate is about 1500 units annually, but Lamborghini hopes to sell at least 2000 per year. That doesn't seem unrealistic compared to Porsche's far more ambitious targets with the Panamera, of which Stuttgart hopes to make 20,000 in the same time span.
The Estoque will be built on Audi's modular-longitudinal platform, which is the base of a number of new models, including the current Audi A4 and A5, the next-generation A6 and A8, the forthcoming all-new A7, and the 2013 VW Phaeton. There is very little component sharing with the recently revealed Porsche Panamera, which uses a standalone platform close to that of the Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7, and VW Touareg SUVs.
The Lamborghini Estoque will most likely have an aluminum body. All-wheel drive will be standard, since front-wheel drive, theoretically a possibility on this platform, is out of the question for Lamborghini. Much development on the underpinnings has been carried out by Audi's Quattro GmbH performance division in Neckarsulm, Germany.
The Audi A7, with its hatchback body, will be closest to the Estoque in concept and dimensions. The Estoque will definitely come to market after the A7, says an insider.

Great sale at Zenni

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New Car: 2010 Mini Convertible

The new MINI Convertible has broken cover, and given the success of the previous drop top it’s no surprise that BMW has lifted the lid on the current generation.
Due to reach showrooms in March, the new MINI comes two years later than its hatchback equivalent. These are the first official pictures of the soft-top and it looks like it's been worth the wait.
The second version of the best-selling convertible will make full use of MINI’s ‘Minimalism’ package, BMW's clever term for its EfficientDynamics systems. The result is a cleaner more frugal beast. Performance has also been improved and the range-topping Cooper S now pumps out 175bhp from its turbo-charged 1.6-litre unit.
The new cabrio gets a healthy makeover too. A raised shoulder line and added chrome strip surrounding the car, highlight the cars sporty nature. While the trademark circular headlamps and hexagonal grille both remain. There are also two all-new colours making their debuts; Interchange Yellow and Horizon Blue.
Opting for the same two-stage electronically-operated canvas roof as the previous car, the top can be partially opened to act as a sunroof as well as fully retracted.
Another accessory making its debut is MINI’s ‘Openometer’, the add-on records how long the top has been down, letting passengers know how long they've been 'cool' for, air conditioning also now comes as standard.
Prices start at £15,995 for the standard Cooper rising to £18,995 for the Cooper S. For more details click here.

Thanks to: Auto Express

Faster Farbio GTS 400 on its way

CAR just tested the newly updated Farbio GTS 400 and they seem to have enjoyed it. The original Farbio GTS was already available in normally aspirated or supercharged form, but the old engine put out just 384 hp with the blower. This year's new GTS 400 flagship puts ot 410 hp thanks to new pistons and connecting rods, among other things. Former Marcos and Invicta head Chris Marsh is the man behind this V6-powered carbon fiber-bodied supercar. He bought Farboud from its founder Arash Farboud and restructured the company, renamed it Farbio, and moved it to the Cotswolds near Bath.

He has stuck with off-the-rack, treid-and-true components wherever possible to make this lightweight supercar somewhat affordable, reliable and workable. Still, at £94,000 or 110,000 Euro, it's no Hyundai Accent. Some will say that's way too much for a little-known brand, especially when that amount could get you something like an Audi R8, but where's the fun in that? These cars appeal to the person who wants something different. If this sounds like your cup of tea, know that the GTS 400 will now do the the sprint from zero to 100km/h in just 3.7sec while charging to a top speed of 180 mph. The force-fed V6 is also said to be good for 24 mpg imperial. While many of the details remind us of other supercars on the market, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Knowing these cottage builders still exist is one of the things we are most thankful for this time of year.

[Source: Car Magazine via Caradisiac]

Fastest Man Alive gets dream drive in a Ferrari

Usain Bolt now wears the mantle of Fastest Man Alive having set world records in the 100 and 200 meter sprints at last summer's Olympics in Beijing. Fitting then that he was placed in one of the fastest cars in the world recently to take a stroll around one of the richest places in the world: Monaco. In the principality for the IAAF awards, Bolt was given the keys to drive an F430 along portions of the F1 circuit in the city. You can check out the gallery of high-res photos below while we wait for word on if he set any world speed records in the process.


[Source: Ferrari]

Heffner Performance unleashes Camilo Pardo Edition Ford GT

We've become familiar with Jason Heffner's creations over the past few years, from his insanely powerful Lamborghini Gallardos to mindblowingly fast Ford GTs. For his latest project, Heffner has teamed up with Ford GT chief designer Camilo Pardo for a special edition version of the car that looks as good as it is fast. Visually, the American supercar gets a racing inspired paint scheme and graphics, flat black BBS wheels and a new rear bumper from Classic Design Concepts. Inside, the car gets a chrome shift ball, wide-shaft shifter and aluminum seat grommets. Under the bonnet, the GT is blessed with Heffner's twin-turbo treatment as well as a Camilo-designed billet aluminum intake and black valve covers. Horsepower is rated at north of 900 and the car is capable of topping 200 mph in under 20 seconds while passing through the 1/4 mile at over 150 mph. There's a press release after the jump with more details and high-res photos in the gallery below over which you have our permission to ogle.

[Source: FordGTForum.com]

Ferrari Enzo in taxi livery found where else? The Middle East...

This little gem in Muscat, Oman represents what you do when you have bodacious sums of money and time. Now we're all for having a little fun, but we're talking about an Enzo, which, while not the prettiest of Ferraris, still doesn't deserve to endure the eighth-level of Maaco paint-shop Hell. Whoever did this gets points for authenticity, even including the roof signage. If nothing else, we'd certainly go for a ride: as passenger to get anywhere in seven seconds, as driver, so we could say, imitating the voice of Blofeld, "That'll be one hundred million dollars."

Aston Martin Rapide official rendering

Usually it’s the automotive press who makes the renderings of future cars, but this time Aston Martin made a rendering for the press. According to CAR Magazine, Aston dropped off an early Christmas gift and gave them its rendering of what the production Rapide will look like.

There isn’t much of a difference from the concept. Minor things have changed such as the three-piece lower grille is now solid, the door mirrors are bigger, and there is a more pronounced crease for the doorline.

Aston’s sedan should be powered by a 6.0-liter 500 hp V12. CAR is reporting that the Rapide should cost between £130,000-£150,000 (about $200,000-$230,000 at direct current rates) when it arrives in about a year. This would be a welcomed price compared to the rumors that Aston Martin is trying to go upmarket and make the Rapide cost as much as $400,000.

[ Source:CAR Magazine ]

Latest Incoming Cars

Sedans

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2009 Nissan Altima

2009 Mazda MAZDA3

2009 Hyundai Sonata

2009 Toyota Corolla

2009 Subaru Legacy

Coupes

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2009 Nissan GT-R

2009 Ford Shelby GT500

2009 Nissan Altima Coupe

2009 Honda Accord Coupe

2009 Volvo C30

Sports Cars

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2009 Audi TT

2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

2009 Dodge Charger

2009 Mazda RX-8

SUVs

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2009 Volkswagen Touareg 2

2009 Nissan Pathfinder

2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee

2009 Kia Borrego

2009 Lexus RX 350

Convertibles

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2009 Pontiac Solstice

2009 Ford Mustang

2009 Tesla Roadster

2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

2009 Dodge Viper

Wagons

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2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

2009 Volvo V70

2009 Dodge Caliber

2009 Audi A3

2009 Saab 9-3 SportCombi

Vans

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2009 GMC Savana Passenger Van

2009 Toyota Sienna

2009 Dodge Grand Caravan

2009 Hyundai Entourage

2009 Chrysler Town & Country

Trucks

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2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab 2WD

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2009 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab 2WD

2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Regular Cab 4X4

2009 Toyota Tacoma 4X2

Luxury

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2009 Cadillac CTS

2009 Audi A8

2009 Cadillac DTS

2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

2009 Chrysler Sebring Convertible

Hybrid

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2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

2009 Honda Civic Hybrid

2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid

2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid

2009 Cadillac CTS New purchase now

2009 Cadillac CTS New purchase now!

three Model of 2009 cadillac CTS
2009 Cadillac CTS 3.6L SFI Picture
2009 Cadillac CTS 3.6L SFI
Pictures, Features, Specs, Dealer Quotes

$35,905

$33,571

3.6L V6 263HP

16/25 mpg
2009 Cadillac CTS 3.6L SIDI Picture
2009 Cadillac CTS 3.6L SIDI
Pictures, Features, Specs, Dealer Quotes

$38,205

$35,722

3.6L V6 304HP

17/26 mpg
2009 Cadillac CTS 3.6L SFI AWD Picture
2009 Cadillac CTS 3.6L SFI AWD
Pictures, Features, Specs, Dealer Quotes

$39,105

$36,563

3.6L V6 263HP

17/25 mpg
2009 Cadillac CTS 3.6L SIDI AWD Picture
2009 Cadillac CTS 3.6L SIDI AWD
Pictures, Features, Specs, Dealer Quotes

$40,105

$37,498

3.6L V6 304HP

17/26 mp
Estimated Payments:
$718/month* find current rates

Rebates & Incentives:
Cash Back / Special Financing more info

Standard Engine:
3.6L V6, 24 valve, 263 hp @ 6400 rpm

* 6 speed manual (standard) or 6 speed automatic transmission
* 18 mpg city / 26 mpg hwy
* Green Rating: Unavailable

Honda CBR 150

Spek detail dari Honda CBR 150
Detailed Specs of Honda CBR 150 ADA disini

It is said that Casey Stoner, Australian MotoGP rider started out on a Honda CBR150. What is the Honda CBR150 technical; the CBR150 comes with a 4 stroke, DOC 4 Valves, water-cooled 149.4cc engine. The cylinder bore is 63.5mm and the stroke is 47.2mm (We can several other smaller cc motorcycle from Honda with the same bore), the compression ration is 11:1 and the ignition is by CDI Direct.

The standard spark plug is an NGK CR8E, but seen also CBR150’s with a Denso U24ESR-N.

The transmission of Honda CBR150 comes with a 6 gear transmission, with a gear ratio from 3.038 for the first gear and a ratio of 0.923 for the last (6th) gear. Honda is using a wet, multiple disk clutch type for this motorcycle.
The dimensions of the bike are 652mm wide by 1,910 in length and 1,065 mm high. With a wheelbase of 1,286mm, all this specification indicates that it is a well-suited motorcycle for some road racing.

The dry weight of the bike is 115kilograms; the full fuel tank capacity is 10 liters unleaded gasoline octane 91 and up.

We need to keep focusing on performance that’s affordable. This keeps us from manufacturing some tailor made individual parts to get the exact performance needs; also changing the bore or coating the cylinder bores with a Ceramic Coating is off they all fall out of the budget.

Okay looking at the standard bike, we are thinking what can we change to get at least some better performance. In the corner of my eye I see my girlfriend walking around with a block of aluminum, assuming that we are going to make a whole new cylinder. But after a quick telephone call with the bike owner, we concluded that it was far out of the budget.

So without the manufacturing of custom made parts we are restricted to the exhaust pipe, air-intake and carburetor. The exhaust pipe is the easiest part, we just bough a racing exhaust set. The air-intake was also easy; we just made the holes bigger so the air can flow much easier into the carburetor. Adjusting the main carburetor main fuel jet, and keeping track on the max and idle performance we got almost 32km/h more speed out of this bike. As we where examined the bike we also found that the chain and sprockets had to be replaced, as the bike clearly ad some more power we selected a small rear and a few teeth bigger front sprocket. The bike was now a fast little monster.
Upgrading a Honda CBR-125R to a CBR-150R

Modify & MaintenanceAs the Honda CBR-125R get more popular, the Honda CBR125 is Britain's top-selling motorcycle for several years. The Honda CBR-125R is a fantastic road legal learner bike perfect for first time rider.

The Honda CBR-125R with its Liquid-cooled, two-valve, single-cylinder, four-stroke, 124.7cc engine produces enough power to get first time riders experience the feeling of riding a sporty bike. But after about one year, most Honda CBR-125 owners want to sell the bike as the 13 horsepower engine doesn’t provide enough power.
But why sell the bike, if you can for as little as 10,000 Baht (217 Euro, or 294 US$) can upgrade the big to a CBR-150R, with original Honda parts. The differences between the Honda CBR-125 and his bigger Thai brother the Honda CBR-150 is only the cylinder, piston and cylinder head assembly.

Buying the original Honda CBR-150 part is for people who plan to visit Thailand for a holiday no problem at all, it is not uncommon that foreigners buy this ‘150cc upgrade kit’ says a shop owner who also shows us quickly several more Honda CBR upgrade variants starting from 130cc to all the way up to 195cc. This third party bore-up sets are even cheaper then the original Honda 150cc set.

The shop owner explains us that with the 195cc bore-up kit, which includes a sport camshaft, piston, cylinder, cylinder head assembly which includes larger DOHS 4-valves and an un-limited ECU/CDI with a simple manual, the modified Honda CBR can produce twice the amount of horsepower compared to the stock Honda CBR-125.

Just when we want to leave the owner of the shop, points out that with more power ‘over 26 horses’ we also need to consider other modifications. And he shows us racing front forks and Brembo brake assemblies with disc brakes that are much larger then standard on the Honda CBR-125. Other stuff we get to see are rear swingarms, racing, air-filters, exhaust pipes, gas rear shocks, and the guy is not stopping ….we need an excuse to get away…

Spied: 2010 Audi A7

Spy shots of the A7, Audi’s upcoming low-roofline sedan, continue to surface. The A7 is likely to be based on the next-generation A6 architecture, which itself will be a lengthened and modified version of the current A4/A5 platform. Judging from the name, the four-seat A7 should slot into the Audi lineup above the A6 and below the A8 and will likely occupy the $50,000-to-$70,000 price range. The grainy new snaps seen here clearly show the A7’s bulbous rear end, which hides a hatchback configuration, a body style that resembles the recently revealed—and not beautiful—Porsche Panamera.
In the U.S. we’re expecting that base A7s will be powered by the A6’s recently introduced 300-hp, 3.0-liter supercharged V-6; V-8 engines are almost a certainty but we don’t yet know if the V-8 will be the A6’s direct-injection 350-hp, 4.2-liter V-8 or the R8’s 420-hp, 4.2-liter V-8. Transmission choices will be a six-speed automatic, a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual, and an eight-speed automatic that will likely be reserved for the V-8 model.
After the launch of the regular-grade models, the sportier and more powerful S7 will debut, powered by the S6’s 5.2-liter V-10 with upwards of 435 hp under the hood. An ultra-powerful RS7 is a possibility, although it, like the current RS6 sedan and wagon, may be deemed too expensive and too niche-y for the North American market.
Audi usually shows a thinly disguised concept version before showing the final production car, and we expect such a concept of the A7 to debut in early 2009 at the Detroit auto show, with the production version appearing perhaps as early as the Geneva auto show in the spring.

Spied: 2010 Honda Accord CUV

A gap exists in the Honda lineup between the mid-size Pilot and compact CR-V SUVs, and the company might be filling that hole with an Accord-based crossover. Caught here wearing no camouflage, this bash-up mule could turn into a vehicle that would do battle with the new Toyota Venza.
Possibly based on the European-only Accord Tourer wagon, this CUV prototype wears the familiar U.S.-market Accord front end grafted to a Tourer body. There are fender flares pinned to the body sides, indicating a wider track, and masking around the C-pillar hides a stretched wheelbase. From the back, a rear differential makes it evident the CUV will get power to the rear wheels as well as those in the front, likely via Honda’s VTM-4 all-wheel-drive system. Power could come from the same 2.4-liter four-cylinder and 3.5-liter V-6 engines offered on the current Accord; the dual exhaust on this mule likely means it carries the V-6.
When asked to comment on the spy photos and its possible reponse to the Ford Flex and Toyota Venza, Honda stated simply that "it is always evaluating the needs of its customers." However unconfirmed, we’d expect that a mid-size crossover is all but guaranteed from a company known for being as forward-thinking as Honda.
Prancing around with no camo and combining currently produced sheetmetal, this is likely a mule that would look markedly different in production. Watch for an announcement at an upcoming auto show. We'll keep you posted.

Spied: 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera

Here are the first decent spy shots we’ve seen of the 2011 Porsche 911 in something resembling its own metal; it’s the car which Porsche internals and Porschephiles alike will refer to as the 998. Clearly, this prototype wears the expected placeholder front lighting elements—these ones cribbed from a pre-face-lift version of the current 997-gen Carrera—bulging from tacked-on front fender extensions that conceal a flatter, Panamera-like nose. The roofline and doors appear very close in design to the current model—no surprise there—but the rear fenders of this car conceal a vastly wider track than the current 911, leading us to believe that this car could be an all-wheel-drive 4 or 4S model.

New Car: 2010 Mazda 3 Hatchback

Just days after we were first introduced to the 2010 Mazda 3 sedan at the L.A. show, its five-door hatchback sibling has been unveiled electronically, in advance of its meatspace debut.
On December 3 (Coincidence? We think not), the more useful 3 will be shown at the Bologna motor show in Italy. The hatch shares the sedan’s somewhat-goofy-looking, smiley front end, as well as its new interior and, of course, chassis. Expect the same powertrain options as the current U.S.-market hatch, namely one: the 2.5-liter four. Europeans will be able to choose from among two turbo-diesels and 1.6- and 2.0-liter gas-fired fours, the latter also found in the U.S. sedan.
What’s more exciting for us, though, is the promise of a new Mazdaspeed 3, which will once again be offered in hatchback, front-drive form only. After catching a few glimpses of the speediest of the 3s on the Nürburgring, we’ve been anxiously awaiting further details on the replacement for one of our favorites. It is expected to use the same turbocharged 2.3-liter as now, generating at least the 263 hp of the current model. That car should be arriving for the Geneva show, which takes place in March of next year.

2009 BMW Z4 rumored to debut next month, Z2 on the way

One of the vehicles that was teased in the run-up to the LA Auto Show, but never made it to the floor, was the redesigned 2009 BMW Z4. Rumors of the Z4's impending arrival have been circulating for months, and according to a source inside BMW, the automaker might reveal the restyled coupe and convertible next month.

Drivetrain choices will include either a naturally aspirated or twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, found in the 328i and 335i, respectively, with an M version packing the M3's V8 and a carbon fiber roof. In addition to new front and rear fascias, a lower roofline and a ducktail spoiler, BMW is expected to employ a handful of stylistic differences to separate the Z4 coupe from its folding hardtop sibling. For 2009, BMW is expected to drop the soft-top Z4 and only offer the folding hardtop.

The rumored Z2 is currently in the works and could be available in both coupe and cabrio variants, and equipped with some form of BMW's EfficientDynamics system. The 1-series-based two-door is expected to be powered by either a naturally aspirated or turbocharged 2.0-liter four, and there's also talk of a hybrid version utilizing BMW's eDrive system.

[Source: GermanCarZone via BMWBlog]

Porsche wants to buy Tesla Roadster

Porsche is not just known for performance cars, but also for a crack team of engineers (how else do you expect to get that kind of performance from six-cylinders?) So it’s no surprise that Porsche is in line to pick up a Tesla Roadster. Inside Line got the scoop from a Tesla spokesperson, "A Porsche senior engineer actually came over a few weeks back, and he was seriously analyzing the car in every detail."

Porsche is reportedly working on its own lithium-ion car, possibly to use on its own cars or offer to other makers through its engineering arm. One of the easiest ways to understand any technology is testing and reverse engineering successful technology, so there no telling what Porsche may do when its Tesla arrives.

Tuner Ruf has actually already assembled a 911 with ithium-ion battery power, but Porsche is doesn’t seem to be impressed with that car. Instead the German car company went shopping in California. But just like GM’s and Toyota’s Hyundai Genesis purchase, Porsche isn’t getting any special treatment. Tesla said Porsche is "pretty far down on the list of current orders."


[Source:Inside Line]

Toyota iQ convertible

If the new Toyota iQ is going to compete against the smart fortwo, an open-top version is going to be a necessity. We've already heard rumblings of a possible roadster based on the iQ's underpinnings, so a convertible option certainly seems possible. If renderings from Japan's Best Car are to be believed (we're not convinced), the Japanese automaker could mimic the fortwo's cabriolet style by removing the front and rear roof sections, fitting an integrated roll bar and adding a set of soft-tops.

The main advantage for the iQ has over the fortwo is the city car's extra passenger seats. Unlike the smart, Toyota's microcar manages to cram four belts into its tiny frame and a drop-top variant would make the iQ the world's smallest-ever four-seat convertible. While a credible contender to the fortwo cabrio is surely in the cards, we're still waiting to see the iQ rebadged a Scion and brought to the U.S. to truly give smart a run for its money.

[Source: Best Car via Carscoop]

Jaguar XF Coupe breaks cover

Hello Kitty, we've been expecting you. According to Auto Express, what you see here is slated to hit showrooms in 2010 and will go up against such luxury and performance stalwarts as the Mercedes-Benz C Class Coupe, BMW's 3 Series Coupe and the Audi A5. It's definitely got the looks to compete on equal footing, with the trendy high belt-line and minimal glass surface area. Where the XF sedan features slinky lines, this XF bulges in an exaggerated show of power, making the new Coupe a much more aggressive design overall.

Jaguar's latest leaper is also expected to showcase the automaker's newest V8 engine, now displacing 5.0L and generating 500 supercharged horses. This engine will also make an appearance in the XFR and allow Jaguar to offer a British alternative to the BMW M cars, MB AMGs and Audi Rs, not to mention the latest Cadillac CTS V-Series, which is soon to lose two of its doors, as well. We don't know when and where this car will debut, but UK pricing is expected to be about £35,000 (about $53K in US dollars).

[Source: Auto Express]

Bugatti Veyron on TopGear track

The Bugatti Veyron was finally driven on the TopGear race track, and the result is pretty impressive... or not, we’ll let you decide!

But for those who still have the impression that the Veyron is the fastest car in the world, well, check this video, you will be very disappointed!

The Nissan GT-R is slap-your-mama fast, which has led to some dustup on the internet surrounding voided warranties when using the included Launch Control. Contrary to a previous report that Nissan intends to drop Launch Control from the 2010 GT-R, Motor Trend's blog is reporting that no decision has been made yet and we've heard the same thing from Nissan itself. The bigger point that MT goes on to make is that even without Launch Control, the GT-R is still brutally fast. When the magazine got its first crack at the R35, testers did an acceleration run just for giggles with all the electronics aids active except for Launch Control. The result? 3.9 seconds to 60 mph by just mashing the skinny pedal all the way down. That's enough speed to keep the GT-R running in the same pack with which it's already been lumped, and with the computers doing the work, there's no risk of stalling at launch and getting smoked by a '93 Duster. So what've we learned? Without risking a $20,000 transmission replacement, the GT-R is still a rocket.


[Source: Motor Trend]

Porsche Panamera finally arrives

After what seems to be about the last three decades of seeing spy photos of Porsche's first four-door super sedan, the Panamera, the car is now officially official. Porsche is calling this a four-door grand touring sports car rather than a coupe or sedan. According to the Stuttgart-based brand, the Panamera combines traditional Porsche dynamic behavior with a spacious interior and GT comfort. Unfortunately, they seem to have left an attractive shape out of the equation. Any hopes we had that the Panamera would look better when the camouflage was removed have been quickly dashed.

Power for the Panamera will come from a range of V6 and V8 engines that will likely mirror the Cayenne lineup. The engines will run from a paltry 300 horsepower up to the 500-hp unit from the Cayenne Turbo. Both naturally aspirated and turbo models will be included, with most using direct fuel injection. Getting the power to the wheels will be a choice of six-speed three-pedal gearbox or a seven-speed dual clutch unit. All-wheel drive will be an option on top of the standard rear-wheel drive, as well. At some point, probably sometime later in 2010-11, a hybrid variant will also debut. There's no word on whether Porsche will add the 3.0L diesel V6 now appearing in the Cayenne to the Panamera, but production starts next spring for a summer on-sale date.

[Source: Porsche]

Nissan pulls out of Detroit and Chicago auto shows

Following the lead of Porsche, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Ferrari, Land Rover and Rolls-Royce, Nissan has announced that it won't be present at the 2009 North American International Auto Show, otherwise known as the Detroit Auto Show. But Japan's third largest automaker is going one step further than the others and also pulling out of the Chicago Auto Show in February.

You may recall that Nissan blew its wad, so to speak, at last week's LA Auto Show where it unveiled the new 370Z, Cube and Infiniti G37 Convertible. With nothing left to show save for a commercial van concept called the NV2500, Nissan felt its marketing money could be better spent elsewhere. No word yet on what'll happen to the NV2500 that was supposed to debut in Detroit, but at this rate we fully expect to have a large team of bloggers on hand in early January who are bored to death on the show floor of Cobo Hall. Thanks, economy.

[Source: The Detroit News]

First Sketch: Volvo S60

This is the first look at the new S60 concept Volvo plans to reveal at the Detroit Auto Show in January. The concept gives an indication of what the new sedan will look like when it's launched in 2010.
The new car's coupe-inspired silhouette follows on from the original S60's and is also underlined by entirely new shoulder contours and a gentle double wave that runs from headlamps to taillamps. "The inspiration comes from the Swedish coastline's cliffs and seas," explains Volvo Cars' design director, Steve Mattin.
"On the inside we've been even more daring - there the focus has been on creating a vision of the future," says Mattin. Among the interior features is a floating center stack made of hand-crafted Orrefors crystal. "Using pure crystal is a thrilling experiment. We may well see interior features in crystal-like materials in the future."

Fiat unveils another special little Panda

You might think that Mercedes and McLaren have been busy churning out new editions of the SLR supercar like madmen (you know, aside from winning the world championship), but they're just taking a page out of the Fiat playbook. The Italian automaker has once again unveiled a new version of its diminutive Panda.

Called the Glam Edition, the special version starts with the Panda 4x4 and updates it with a new pearl white paint job complimented by aluminum roof rails and a new set of 15" alloys, but the Panda 4x4 Glam differentiates itself further inside with denim-style upholstery that should bridge the gap between the hip Diesel edition 500 and the maternal Panda Mammy. We've got more images in the gallery below, but something tells us this isn't one of those European hatchbacks we'll be pining for Stateside.

[Source: Fiat]

GM not sending any bailout money to Brazilian operation

A story has surfaced on the Latin American Herald Tribune (a publication we hadn't previously heard of) stating that General Motors was planning to invest $1 billion in it's Brazilian operations to update its South American products. So far, that part of the story is true. However, that's where the truth apparently ends. The story goes on to say that GM plans to use money obtained from the proposed government bailout package to pay for the Brazilian investment.

We contacted General Motors to check on the story and spokesman Richard James replied, "I don't know if something got lost in translation but Jaime Ardila, President of GM Brazil did NOT say that funding for GMB projects would come from the US financial aid package. GM Brazil has $1 billion in investments that have already been approved but they will be financed by our Brazilian operations through local sources."

Just as Opel (GM's German division) is going to the German government for assistance, GM Brazil-Mercosur is raising capital in that country. During the congressional hearings this week, CEO Rick Wagoner also indicated that GM operations in different regions are each funding projects locally in response to a question about a recent expansion in Russia. It appears that any money that GM gets from the US government will stay here.

[Source: Latin American Herald Tribune]