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Nissan plans to debut two new concept cars at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, the new Stealth Bomber look-alike Mixim Concept and the aptly named Micra Color + Concept. Also gracing the stands will be a heavily revised version of the current Micra minicar. The new Mixim is a compact vehicle that sports a centrally mounted driver’s seat with two passenger seats fitted on either side. Targeted towards the youth market, the interior features a computer inspired layout with diamond-shaped cut-outs littering the cabin. Powering the concept is Nissan’s ‘Super Motor’...
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VW: Toyota is our biggest competitorThis year has seen Toyota become one of the "big three" in total sales in the U.S., claiming the number two spot ahead of Ford and Chrysler. Volkswagen has, in turn, set its sights on the leading Japanese automaker, seeking to challenge Toyota on a global scale. VW will certainly have to fight for...
Nelson Ireson -
Revealed: Toyota iQ minicar conceptFollowing the debut of the Volkswagen up! concept earlier today, Toyota has revealed its own minicar rival with the unveiling of the new iQ. Toyota’s new concept is significantly smaller than the up!, measuring just 2,980mm in length, but still has room for four with occupants sitting in a...
Alex Kaufmann -
Mercedes-Benz ultra-luxury F700 ConceptMercedes’ major new concept car for the Frankfurt Motor Show is the new F700 design study, a luxurious touring sedan showcasing a raft of new technologies that will eventually make its way to the carmaker’s production models. The most exciting feature is the new DiesOtto powerplant, a...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Revealed: BMW X6 Sports Activity Coupe ConceptBMW has finally taken the wraps off its long-awaited X6 crossover, a new model described by Chief designer Chris Bangle as a coupe with off-road capabilities. Though BMW is calling its new show car a concept, an almost identical version of the car will hit the market early next year. The car...
Siddarth Raja -
Saab presents new 9-3 Turbo XSaab will be using the backdrop of this week’s Frankfurt Motor Show to debut the new 9-3 Turbo X, which also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the launch of its first turbocharged model, the 99 Turbo. The car will be differentiated from the regular 9-3 stable thanks to unique aero parts...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Born on shaky ground in the U.S. in 1989, Toyota's Lexus marque has since grown to become the nation's best-selling luxury brand. Now Toyota is hoping similar success can be found around the world. Russia and China are welcoming the brand with open arms. Japan, Toyota's home market, has been slower to accept Lexus as a legitimate luxury maker, however, with the company failing to meet 2005 and 2006 sales targets. It is hoped the newly redesigned LS sedan will help to turn things around, and the early numbers look good, Detroit News tells us. The real challenge will be taking on the continent...
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Toyota R&D Chief talks up new sports carDespite record sales Toyota is still without a low priced sports car, something its other Japanese rivals are so well-known for. This year saw it retire the mid-engined MR2 two-seater, the last of a trio of sporty cars that also included the Supra, and the slightly less focused Celica. However...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Brabus presents the V12 Biturbo Bullit Mercedes C-Class - 720hp and 1100NmPegged as the ‘ultimate wolf in sheep’s clothing,’ Mercedes tuner Brabus has unveiled its new V12 Biturbo C-Class sedan that it plans to present at tomorrow’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Brabus has been transplanting high output, large displacement engines into regular sedans for...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione goes on saleThe new Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione will be the first car from the Italian label to be sold in the US since the brand disbanded operations in the world’s biggest car market, but it's not expected to arrive until late 2009. However, the car will officially go on sale in Europe following this...
Ralph Hanson -
Fuji, Suzuka, to share Japanese GP from 2009The Japanese grand prix will from 2009 onwards alternate between Fuji and the event's popular former venue, Suzuka. The redeveloped Fuji circuit, set to host formula one for the first time later this month, revealed the news in a statement on Saturday. It said Fuji president Hiroaki Kato and Bernie...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
AC Schnitzer GP3.10 gas powered V10 coupeCommitted to upstage its rival G-Power, AC Schnitzer has developed a BMW 3-series coupe powered by the M5/M6 V10 running on LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). The new car is scheduled to be unveiled at next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show and is in keeping with the show’s theme of power through...
Ralph Hanson -
The month of August has seen healthy sales for Germany’s three major luxury marques, with BMW managing to take top spot as the world's largest premium carmaker for the month. BMW’s sales grew 11.1% to 85,003 units but when combined with sales of its Mini brand, this figure jumps to 99,755 units. Audi only sold 66,400 and Mercedes-Benz, even with its tally for the Smart brand, managed to move only 96,200 vehicles. The rise in sales for the Munich-based carmaker is credited mainly to the strong performance of its X5 SUV, which benefited from new diesel models, as well continued...
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Revealed: Renault’s new Laguna Coupe ConceptThe new Laguna is a crucial model for Renault, so much so that CEO Carlos Ghosn has admitted the carmaker is staking its reputation on the launch of the new sedan next month. Not surprisingly Renault plans to launch several variants of the car including a new two-door model due to arrive on the...
Alex Kaufmann -
FIA's new evidence in spy case to come from AlonsoFernando Alonso could be set to emerge right at the centre of the espionage saga. Ahead of the latest hearing of the World Motor Sport Council on Thursday, it is rumoured in the Monza paddock on Thursday that the Spaniard could have been among the team employees who knew about chief designer Mike...
Nelson Ireson -
Smart ForTwo creator plans second carThe man originally behind the concept of Smart cars, Swatch chairman Nicolas G. Hayek, has said he’s planning to build a new, greener car. Hayek's previous auto project, the Smart Fortwo, was originally designed as an all-electric vehicle. However, such technology was either not feasible or...
Nelson Ireson -
Chrysler snags Toyota’s golden child Jim PressChrysler has announced today that Toyota's North America President Jim Press will be heading to Auburn Hills to become the carmaker’s new co-president and vice chairman. We don’t normally report on executive shuffles within the auto industry but Chrysler snagging Jim Press is a major...
Kenneth Hall -
Revealed: 2008 Mazda6The new Mazda6 has been revealed in all its glory ahead of its unveiling at next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The new model, once again available in sedan, five-door hatch and wagon bodystyles, brings a new sense of style and design that we predict will lure away customers of more expensive...
Alex Kaufmann -
Porsche will unveil a new version of its Cayenne SUV called the GTS at next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Based on the Cayenne S, the new model will feature a 405hp (302kW) V8 engine, a lowered chassis and 21in wheels. Though the car’s output pales in comparison to the 520hp (389kW) of the Turbo S, a new weight reduction program and an aerodynamic enhanced bodykit will certainly win it some fans. The show car will be finished in a new ‘GTS Red’ paint scheme and inside, the rear bench has been replaced with two separate bucket seats making this strictly a four-seater...
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FIA says 'new evidence' in spy sagaThe espionage saga involving McLaren and Ferrari took a fresh turn on Wednesday. F1's governing body revealed in a statement that it has received "new evidence" and had therefore decided to convene another hearing of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris. The meeting will happen on September 13...
Alex Kaufmann -
Dodge Demon concept sexy enough to take on Solstice and Miata?It's hard to overestimate the thirst of the American auto market for sexy, sporty, small roadsters – while sales of the Pontiac Solstice may be slowing down, the Saturn Sky is taking off, and the Mazda Miata MX-5 is holding more or less steady as it has for nearly two decades. That's what...
Nelson Ireson -
GM Holden plans super-luxury CapriceHolden is looking to target BMW and Mercedes by adding a whole host of extra features to its already sumptuous LWB Caprice. Taking cues from its Chinese counterpart, the Buick Park Avenue, Holden may add more rear passenger focused features such as heated, adjustable, reclining and vibrating rear...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Camaro to get 450+HP direct-injection V8?GM will be debuting a new direct-injection petrol engine in the 2008 Cadillac CTS but according to a new report the power-boosting technology could carry over into more models within the next couple of years. This is good news for us, as GM engineers are working on a new Gen IV V8 engine with...
Alex Kaufmann -
SAIC and Nanjing merger to go aheadFollowing their letter of intent to discuss “comprehensive cooperation,” two of China's biggest automakers, SAIC and Nanjing Auto, have announced the start of a merger agreement expected to be finalized by October 1. SAIC will gain 100% of Nanjing Auto in exchange for a share of SAIC...
Ralph Hanson