F1’s Overtaking Working Group (OWG) has agreed on its first recommendations to improve the spectacle of grand prix racing. Following the mostly processional Turkish grand prix, the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport reports that the group - headed by team technical boffins Paddy Lowe (McLaren), Pat Symonds (Renault) and Rory Byrne (Ferrari) - is now ready to push ahead with its concepts for improving overtaking through more conducive FIA design rules.

After extensive tests with a 25 per cent model in the Fondmetal wind tunnel in Italy, funded by all the teams except Spyker, it emerges that the OWG will propose a range of changes to be phased-in between around 2009-2010.

Among them are: a wider front wing, a narrower and higher rear wing, a steeper diffuser, and the banning of winglets and bargeboards. Slick tyres may also be reintroduced in 2009. (GMM)

The upcoming Dodge Challenger will not be sold in European markets as the car will only be manufactured in limited numbers with many American fans likely to miss out as well. The decision was apparently made by Chrysler’s new owners, Cerberus Capital Management, who actually overturned plans made by Chrysler’s previous management team, reports AutoTelegraaf.

The final production version of the new Dodge Challenger will be revealed at the Chicago Auto Show on the 15th of February next year, and is expected to enter production at Chrysler’s Brampton plant later that same year.

All is not loss for European fans of American muscle. If there’s enough demand, private importers may sell the car across Europe in limited numbers but potential buyers will undoubtedly be facing a substantial markup. There’s no word if Chevrolet’s new Camaro will make it across the Atlantic but Ford offers some solace with its Mustang range.

Skoda will debut two new vehicles at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the production Fabia Estate (pictured) and a new ultra-efficient Fabia Greenline design study. The Fabia Greenline is a design study that’s intended to highlight Skoda’s push to develop more environmentally-friendly vehicles and showcase new technologies that will eventually make it to the carmaker’s production models.

The new Fabia Greenline boasts a fuel consumption figure of 69mpg and a correspondingly low carbon emissions rating of 110g of CO2 per km. Skoda’s new Greenline initiative is similar to projects from other carmakers such as Volkswagen and its BlueMotion range, Renault and its own Eco2 frugal models plus Ford’s new ECOnetic.

The new Fabia Estate, set to go on sale before the end of the year, packs in 1,460L of storage space and will be available with up to six different engine options. Also on show in Frankfurt will be Skoda’s previous Fabia Estate Scout concept car.

The Chinese built Smart Fortwo replica, Shuanghuan’s Noble minicar, will go on sale in Europe despite threats of legal action from Mercedes-Benz. Officials from Mercedes have threatened the European importer of the Chinese vehicles, Martin Motors, who says the cars will still go on sale as scheduled following a possible launch at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The car is still awaiting EU safety and emission approval.

The CEO of Martin Motors Guido Martinelli told reporters from Automotive News Europe that Mercedes’ legal team had already sent a letter of complaint to the car’s German importer, China Automobiles Deutschland. “After a preliminary hearing between our lawyers and those from our German distributor, we see no evidence in Mercedes claims. We plan to show the Noble at the IAA in Frankfurt,” he said.

Mercedes is not the only company threatening Martin Motors because of the cloned car. Even the organizer of the Frankfurt Show has warned that it may have to take action if the suspect car infringed intellectual property rights.

As for Shuanghuan’s BMW X5 clone, the CEO SUV, Martinelli revealed that BMW hasn’t contacted it or the German importer and the car will continuing being sold in Europe as planned.

Toyota has admitted harboring at least a superficial interest in F1’s reigning double world champion Fernando Alonso. With the Spaniard plainly unhappy at McLaren in 2007, his former boss and mentor Flavio Briatore this week explained that “everybody” in pitlane would be interested in making a bid for the 26-year-old.

The German newspaper Bild on Wednesday then claimed that Cologne based Toyota has spending power of $40m for its second race seat next year and would be willing to receive Alonso if he goes on the market for 2008. Toyota president John Howett, having decided not to automatically take up the ‘option’ on Ralf Schumacher’s current contract, admits that Alonso is right at the top of his driver wish list.

“Of course,” he is quoted as saying by Motorsport Aktuell, “and I would imagine the same is also true for half of everybody else.” (GMM)

Volkswagen in the US announced today that it has partnered with the not for profit organization Carbonfund to start a carbon emissions offset program covering the emissions of every car it sells in the States between September 1 this year through until January 2 next year.

Programs like the one offered at Carbonfund work by planting a number of trees for each car sold to neutralize the impact that each car has on the environment. Carbonfund will plant native trees in a wetland in Northern Louisiana. The total carbon reduction is estimated to be more than 372,000 tons of CO2 from planting over 250,000 native trees in the wetland.

Following Toyota’s lead, most mainstream car manufacturers are jumping on the eco-friendly bandwagon. Even Land Rover offers a similar program to its customers where they pay a small fee to help fund conservation projects like wind farms and tree planting.

Just a few months following the market debut of the saloon, Mercedes-Benz is now unveilling the estate version of the new C-class. The new model offers a load capacity of 1,500L and includes an automatic opening tailgate for easy access. Compared to the outgoing model, the new estate consumes 12% less fuel, needing just 6.0L of juice per 100km.

There is a choice of three trim levels, Classic, Elegance and Avantgarde, and, like the sedan range, each features its own distinct grille to differentiate the models. Other features of the new car include towing capacity of as much as 1800 kilograms and an optional self-levelling suspension system.

The engine range consists of two four-cylinder petrol engines in the C180 and C200 Kompressor models, as well as two four-cylinder diesel engines in the C200 and C220 CDI models. As for the six-cylinder engine range, there is a choice of three petrol units developing 150 kW/204 hp, 170 kW/231 hp and 200 kW/272 hp, as well as the new C320 CDI with an output of 165 kW/224 hp. With the exception of the C 50, all engine variants are coupled to a six-speed manual transmission. The C350 is partnered by the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission.

Gallery after the jump.
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Infiniti will likely add an AWD option to its G37 coupe in the following months to keep it abreast with its closest rival, BMW’s 335i and its recently announced 335xi coupe. According to its communications manager Tim Gallagher, Infiniti’s dealers and customers have been demanding an AWD G-coupe for some time now and the chances of it making it to production are likely though nothing has been confirmed as yet.

Earlier this month, Infiniti added the second AWD model to its M sedan range with the launch of the 4.5L V8 powered M45x and pencilled in for an early 2008 launch is a new AWD G35x sedan. This would likely be the same set-up that would make its way into the new G37 coupe.

A new AWD version of the G37 could match two-doors like the aforementioned 335xi and Audi’s quattro A5 in the performance stakes but would certainly undercut them both in price, leaving Infiniti with a sure-fired winner.

Mercedes is considering outsourcing production of transmissions for its next-gen A, B and C-class models, which could also lead to the closure of its current transmission plant in Zuffenhausen, Germany. The decision is said to be backed by CEO Dieter Zetsche, who considers the development of new transmissions as non-core to Mercedes. By outsourcing the development and manufacturing process to an outside supplier, engineers could potentially reduce costs and improvement innovation, a Mercedes insider revealed to Auto Motor und Sport.

According to the source, Mercedes is also seeking a supplier for a new eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox, giving it an edge over both Lexus and BMW who both plan to rely on fully-automatic eight-speed transmissions. A dual-clutch gearbox is better in both fuel-consumption and straight-line speed when compared with conventional autos. Mercedes is hoping that either Getrag or ZF develops and manufactures the new gearbox as designing the box itself would be too costly for the carmaker.

A potent high-performance version of the TT Coupe and Roadster is not very far away, however, specific details of the future model are still hard to come by. There’s been much debate about the power source for the new super-coupe with most suggesting either a twin-turbo version of the current 3.2L V6 engine or a brand new five-cylinder turbo unit.

According to info leaked from a reputable source at Audi, the new car will actually be powered by a 2.3L VR5 engine with a turbocharger. Final output will be 308hp (230kW), and the car won’t be called the TT-RS but simply TT-R. The engine will feature all the latest in Audi technology include new direct-injection as well as a fast-spooling turbo. This engine will also feature in multiple models in the Audi range apart from the TT.

Previous spy-shots revealed a prototype with huge cross-drilled brake discs and upgraded calipers as well as an electronic rear-spoiler covered with a strip of carbon-fiber.
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In a bid to compete with BMW and its own Google Maps-based ConnectedDrive navigation package, rival Mercedes-Benz today announced that it has teamed up with both Yahoo and Google Maps to deliver an easy to use in-car navigation system.

The system will be available on The C, CL and S-class models from September 5th. Called Search & Send, the new system will let you send your favorite places to the cars Navigation system using a new ‘send to car’ icon on your home PC loaded with the Mercedes’ software. The waypoint can then be downloaded using a special button attached to the car’s nav-system.

We are hoping that it also integrates a feature like the one found in BMW’s Google based system, which allows the driver to perform in-car Google searches so that drivers will be able to find locations they need whilst on the go.
Via: Foursprung

German tuner Novitec Rosso will be displaying a new modified version of the Ferrari 599 GTB at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show that’s set to go on sale immediately after. The new package consists of a subtle styling kit for increased downforace, as well as some mild power and handling upgrades.

The aero kit consists of a new front lip, side skirts with larger air intake openings, side flaps, a new rear wing and bumper with an integrated diffuser. The car also gets new 20in wheels at the front with larger 21in alloys at the rear and 355mm Pirelli P Zeros. Other changes to the 599 include a KW Automotive adjustable aluminum suspension kit, as well as new 405mm brake discs with Brembo six piston calipers.

Changes under the hood include a power boost of 25hp (19kW), bringing output to 645hp (481kW) and a top-speed raised by 5km/h. Engineers modified the standard car’s ECU and added a slightly larger exhaust system, now with 90mm tailpipes. A more powerful engine upgrade is currently in development and should be on sale sometime next year. Head over to WorldCarFans to see more images.

Lexus has added a new model to its GS lineup, the new GS460 powered by the same 1UR-FSE 4.6L V8 engine as in the LS flagship. However, the GS doesn’t receive the new direct injection system used in the LS, meaning power levels are slightly down. The engine in the GS460 develops its max power of 342hp (255kW) at 6,400rpm and torque of 459Nm (339lb-ft) at 4,100rpm, which is enough to see the new sedan reach 60mph from rest in 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 149mph.

As for the next GS model due in 2010, new reports suggest that a GS-F performance saloon may be in the works with a 5.0L V10 heading its way. Engineers will be using technology derived from Toyota’s F1 engines and mechanicals developed for the LF-A supercar. Toyota engineers have been testing a new 5.0L V10 engine in prototypes for its upcoming LF-A, and rumor has it that it may also make an appearance in the new GS.

Toyota is yet to confirm the car but that hasn’t stopped the guys from MotorTrend drawing up a possible rendering of it and at the same time revealing the new look of the next GS. Expect to see a similar aero package as the one used on the upcoming IS-F as well as an upgraded version of its eight-speed auto.

Contestants for this year’s European Car Of The Year awards have been announced, with this year’s field comprising 32 entrants from around the world. Last year’s comp saw Ford’s S-Max MPV take top honors, edging out the Opel Corsa and Citroen’s Picasso. This year’s roundup includes cars like the Audi A5, Ford Mondeo, BMW X5, Fiat 500, Mercedes C-class, the Smart ForTwo and the Dodge Nitro.

The cars will be picked by a panel of 58 judges representing 22 countries across Europe. The number of judges from each country will depend on the size of the country’s car market and its importance in car manufacturing. France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain each have six members, while other countries have proportionally fewer representatives.

The winner will be announced on November 19th with a trophy presentation planned to take place in Hamburg in January. Follow the jump to see a full list of all 32 contenders.

While all the models listed are impressive in their own way, we’re placing our bets on the new Ford Mondeo or Mazda2 to take the title.
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The Chinese carmaker accused by BMW and Mercedes-Smart of copying their designs has rejected the claims, citing that it had approval from the Chinese government to build the cars as its defense. Shuanghuan manufactures the Noble minicar, an almost identical replica of the Smart Fortwo, as well as the CEO, a SUV with the rear-end of a BMW X5.

Both BMW and Mercedes have threatened Shuanghuan and its European importer with legal action if the Chinese carmaker carries out its plans to display the suspect cars at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show.

“Noble and CEO cars, approved by the Chinese government, are legal products,” a spokesperson for Shuanghuan told reporters from AFP. Further, the spokesperson explained that the Noble is only sold in China, while the only export markets the CEO is sold in is in parts of Africa and Southeast Asia. There were also no plans to display the cars at next month’s Frankfurt show, he said.