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DaimlerChrysler’s ultra-luxury brand Maybach, suffering from poor sales and a limited lineup, could expand its range with rumored convertible and SUV models in an effort to increase profitability. Though chances of a high-end SUV are slim, the likelihood of a convertible model based on the current 57 limo is high considering that sister-brand Mercedes-Benz has confirmed production of its own four-door luxury drop-top. Sharing its underpinnings with the Maybach 57, the new cabrio will seat up to four passengers and is expected to be produced in a limited run of just 25 to 50 cars...
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Limited interest for Jaguar and Land Rover saleBidding for the Jaguar and Land Rover labels has failed to ignite the level of excitement and the flurry of rival bids that surrounded the sale of Aston Martin earlier this year. Leading the charge in the latest Premier Auto Group sale is private equity firms Cerberus, Ripplewood and One Equity...
Alex Kaufmann -
Peugeot planning 308-based SUVThe new Peugeot 308 was only launched this month but there are already rumors of an SUV model currently being developed to be based on the same platform as the popular hatch. The new SUV would be positioned below the recently revealed 4007 crossover, which itself shares its architecture with a...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Ford expecting plug-in hybrids in 5 to 10 yearsFord CEO Alan Mulally predicts that plug-in hybrids could be in showrooms in five to 10 years. Mulally made the comments during the announcement of a joint-effort between Ford and energy utility Southern California Edison to test twenty electric prototypes. This is the first time that any timeline...
Alex Kaufmann -
The technology behind Mitsubishi’s new Lancer EvolutionMitsubishi is hard at work putting the final touches on the new Lancer Evo and has now released details about two handling and transmission technologies that should give the car a leg up over its rivals. First up, we have the Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system that uses a number of sensors...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
New Cadillac SRX due in 2011, baby SUV in the worksThe Cadillac SRX has been officially revealed. Click here to view the story. Cadillac’s SRX is expected to come in for an update by 2011, by which time an all-new BMW X3-sized crossover may also see the light of day. Designed primarily for European markets, the new crossover will be based on...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Smart has just released details about a couple of hybrid variants of its new Fortwo minicar, with the ultra-efficient offerings coming in three different flavors including one of the industry’s first diesel-hybrid drivetrains. It's likely these designs will eventually lead to new production versions of the Fortwo, but so far only an engine stop-start equipped model has been confirmed for sale. First up is the zero-emission Smart Fortwo electric vehicle. Sporting a 30kW electric motor located in the rear of the car, and a high-performance sodium-nickel-chloride battery housed in its...
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Porsche to form new holding company to rival ToyotaPorsche shareholders approved plans recently for the creation of a new holding company that would combine Volkswagen and truck manufacturers MAN and Scania to form a global powerhouse to rival industry leader Toyota. Porsche under the guidance of CEO Wendelin Wiedeking will be in charge of the new...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Honda dragged into F1 spy sagaUpdate: Honda admits meeting the pair behind the allegations. Click ahead to find out more. A third team is being dragged into the Ferrari-McLaren espionage affair - Honda. The German specialist publication Auto Motor und Sport now reports that, in addition to McLaren, disgruntled Ferrari veteran...
Ralph Hanson -
More details on Lexus’ dedicated hybridWe reported previously about Lexus developing a new dedicated hybrid model positioned between its IS and GS models and now its UK Chief Steve Settle has revealed more details about the upcoming car. Speaking with BusinessCar, Settle explained that the new car, which is planned for 2010, will be a...
Alex Kaufmann -
Pagani To Build 750-HP Zonda R, New C9 Due In 2009Pagani has confirmed that its 750 horsepower Zonda R track car will be put into production with a mere 10 examples only expected to see the light of day. Six deposits have already been placed for the 1.2 million euro Ferrari FXX rival and the first deliveries should start in March of next year...
Alex Kaufmann -
ERST tuned Volvo XC90Volvo tuning specialist Erst based in Osaka, Japan, has released a subtle performance pack for the Volvo XC90 SUV. Japan’s enthusiast market is so fond of Volvo that in fact, several tuning companies in the country specifically work on Volvo cars. Erst is one such company, a specialist in the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
F1's traditional 'silly season' has taken a bizarre twist. After championship leader Lewis Hamilton recently spent some time with the American rapper Sean Combs - otherwise known as Diddy, Puff Daddy or P.Diddy - a rumour has emerged that the formula one paddock could soon have a new team owner. At an event for the launch of a Diddy perfume - 'Unforgivable' - Combs announced that he is thinking seriously about joining the circus by buying a team. However, it is no surprise to learn that - at the night-time occasion in central London - more than (US) $200,000 alone was spent on champagne...
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Radical Launches The 455-HP SR8 LMRadical has launched the updated version of its SR8 track car, now with a more powerful Powertec V8 motor and an all-new Powertec transaxle. Claimed to be the fastest prototype on the club racing scene, the new SR8LM is powered by a 2.8L, 455bhp Powertec RPB motor based on Suzuki’s 1.3L GSXR...
Ralph Hanson -
BMW in talks with Mercedes over subcompact deal?Update: Mercedes has denied they have had talks with BMW but say there is still hope for such a deal. BMW is currently in negotiations with Mercedes-Benz over a possible deal to build a new subcompact car based on the same platform used for BMW’s Mini. The two carmakers are expected to make a...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Mazda2 MPS in the worksMazda’s new MPS (Mazdaspeed) range offer performance levels comparable with much more expensive cars and has quickly become the bang for your buck standard in many segments. Now the range is set to expand with the latest addition to be based on the recently launched Mazda2 hatch. The car is...
Ralph Hanson -
Toyota Prius excels because of unique designThere's no doubt that Toyota’s Prius is the top selling hybrid car in the world. It's already sold more than half a million units, while competitors have struggled and sometimes failed with their own hybrid models. New evidence suggests the reason for the high sales aren't only due to the...
Ralph Hanson -
First Pontiac G8 prototypes completedGM Holden has announced today that the first Pontiac G8 engineering prototypes have been completed at the carmaker’s production site in the Australian state of Victoria, where they’ll undergo testing ahead of the G8’s US market debut early next year. The first production versions...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Fiat’s new 500 will be making a big impact when it hits the streets, rewriting the rules for the low-cost minicar segment by offering distinctive styling and innovativeness in a package that’ll only set you back around €10,000. No wonder Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne commented that he wants the 500 to be the auto industry’s version of the popular Apple iPod, a music player that has trumped former industry heavyweights in the portable audio segment. "I want Fiat to become the Apple of cars," he told reporters from Italy’s La Stampa, adding that the 500 “will...
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Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG UnleashedThe first official shots of Mercedes' new high-performance C63 AMG sedan have been released showcasing Stuttgart's new sledgehammer that's set to compete with the upcoming BMW M3 and Audi's RS 4. Sporting the familiar hand-built 6.2-liter AMG V-8 engine, the C63 churns out 457 horsepower, down on...
Alex Kaufmann -
Kelleners Sport's new kit for the BMW 3-seriesGermany’s Kelleners Sport has launched a new tuning kit for the BMW 3-series sedan, with most of the upgrades designed specifically for the 330i. A specialist in tuning BMW’s since 1983, Kelleners engineers with the help of racing driver Ralf Kelleners have created a series of...
Alex Kaufmann -
Chrysler Crossfire not dead yetAn updated version of the Chrysler Crossfire will return next year despite previous claims that the car’s brief five year run was coming to an end. The 2008 model will receive only minor updates including a tire pressure monitoring system, with the first cars expected to roll off the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Nine points and £400 fine after crashing a VeyronThe UK man who crashed his brother’s Bugatti Veyron back in March will have his license endorsed with nine penalty points, three points away from being totally suspended. He will also receive a £400 fine but we suspect the trashing he would have received from his older brother would have...
Ralph Hanson -
GM to unveil new Opel E-Flex concept in FrankfurtGM has announced that it will reveal a new Opel concept car powered by its E-Flex propulsion system at September’s Frankfurt Auto Show. The E-Flex design features an electric motor that provides drive to the wheels, and runs on batteries charged by a secondary powerplant or even a household...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran