2009

Mitsubishi in the UK has sold a number of special edition Lancer Evolution models over the past several years under the FQ name. The cars are essentially regular Evos with uprated powertrains and in some cases also feature custom bodykits and interior pieces. In the current lineup, the most...

Germany's Essen Motor Show, which runs this week through December 7, is a European tuner showcase, and Volkswagen is taking the opportunity to show off a handful of modified cars. Among them are the Golf VI, Scirocco, Passat CC, Jetta and Polo, but a pair of them are grabbing the spotlight - the...

Most German tuners usually stick with modifying European cars but one company, GeigerCars, has a well-documented obsession with the American muscle car. Now the firm has taken the new Dodge Challenger and worked it over, adding more power and style. While the base model Dodge Challenger SE comes...

BMW will soon be adding another model to its armored ‘Security’ division with the sighting of this 2009 7-Series prototype in Germany suggesting that development of an armored version of the latest saloon is well underway. The latest model comes just months after the reveal of the...

Specialist BMW tuner AC Schnitzer has announced the release of another new upgrade package, this time for the facelifted BMW E90 3-Series sedan and E91 touring models. AC Schnitzer has upgraded the cars with a number of aesthetic and performance pieces, including a dramatic new front spoiler. The...

A growing demand for more fuel efficient cars in the United States, as well as impending CAFE regulations, may prompt German luxury carmaker BMW to bring a diesel variant of its redesigned 7-Series to the North American market. The news came from BMW's president of North American operations, Jim...

Purists may scoff at the idea of a diesel powered Bentley but officials say the idea has merit. Bentley’s parent company Volkswagen, after all, has some of the most refined diesel powerplants on the planet, and it also has a number of high-performance oil-burners including V10 and V12 units...

We first reported on the C3R Chevrolet Corvette Stingray project at the start of this month, and now we can confirm that the original design has been updated slightly to give it a more aggressive and planted stance. The new C3R is a retro-styled homage to the 1969 Corvette Stingray, but unlike many...

The vagaries of the automotive market in the current economic situation are such that while some models, and even entire brands, sell poorly, some individual cars are going gangbusters. Thanks to its solid positioning as a functional, cute, inexpensive and efficient hatchback plus Honda's...

Earlier this month Nissan released the first official image of the upcoming 2009 370Z Coupe, which made its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week, and now the company has released official details for the car. In the first full redesign of the iconic Nissan Z since its re-introduction...

For the fourth of the last five years, Jaguar has taken the top spot in J.D. Power's Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI), which measures satisfaction with the sales process. The turnaround from the doldrums of the 1990s and early 2000s is remarkable, establishing the Leaping Cat as the dominant leader...

The Nissan GT-R has finally filtered its way into the retail channels of most global markets, with a fair number of customer cars on the streets. But just as those owners are getting familiar with their cars, Nissan appears to be working on a slightly revised and upgraded version for sale in 2009...

Infiniti's gorgeous new G37 Coupe gets a drop-top sister today, and having seen the vehicle in the metal, we can confirm it's even better in person. The svelte Convertible is the first G car to go topless, and aside from the folding hardtop design, its specifications are essentially identical to...

German tuner Lumma Design will be unveiling an extensively modified Porsche Cayenne GTS at this year's Essen Motor Show in Germany. Set to debut near the end of this month, the Lumma Design CLR 550 R takes the latest Porsche Cayenne GTS and gives it a new aerodynamic profile, as well as improved...

Toyota has revealed its compressed natural gas (CNG) Camry Hybrid concept ahead of the car’s debut at this week’s Los Angeles Auto Show. Rising fuel costs have made CNG a much more attractive option for consumers, and Toyota is hoping to add the cheaper fuel to its "portfolio of...

German tuning house JE DESIGN previously specialized in customizing cars from Seat, such as the Leon Cupra hot-hatch we reported on last year. Gradually, the tuner has taken its hand at customizing large SUVs from the Volkswagen Group, such as the VW Touareg and Audi Q7. The firm has now developed...

The L.A. Auto Show is just days away, and as it draws near more models, updates and reveals are coming to light. Pontiac will be bringing a revised family of G6 coupes, convertibles and sedans to the L.A. Auto Show despite General Motors' widely publicized pull-out of its featured show vehicles...

Renowned German tuner Hamann has developed a number of heavily modified sports cars in the past, the most recent being the Mercedes-McLaren SLR ‘Volcano’ supercar. Lately, however, the tuner has decided to take a more subtle approach to customization, releasing a set of custom wheels...

The idea of a high-performance SUV seems oxymoronic to some, but Porsche's Cayenne, especially the GTS, Turbo and Turbo S variants, go a long way to quell any doubt. With the extra power and aggressive setup performed by edo, the matter is pressed even further. Cranking out 450hp (331kW) and...

Aston Martin through its motorsport division has released the 2009 specification Vantage GT4 race car based on its latest 4.7L V8 Vantage sports luxury coupe. The new Vantage GT4 builds on the success of its predecessor, the 4.3L Vantage N24, and has been under development for the past six months...