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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 Aachen-based company claims that the new aesthetic appearance places an emphasis on dynamics and that "instead of bulky curves, straight and slender forms are used." Additionally, in homage to BMW’s race cars, the front spoiler elements finish at the bottom in a pointed "bow“. In terms of...
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Ferrari Launches Online Configurator For CaliforniaFerrari has launched a dedicated website for its California convertible, with a number of interesting features to keep potential customers and the curious interested in the car. Organizing the website into three distinct categories of 'Hear', 'See' and 'Feel', the sections feature videos, pictures...
Jeremy Weber -
Ford tops IIHS safety results, Lexus and Infiniti miss outThe Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) today released its annual list of vehicles that had earned the agency’s coveted 'Top Safety Pick' award, revealing that some major milestones had been achieved. According to the president of the IIHS, Adrian Lund, "Top Safety Pick winners are...
James Martinez -
Carmakers planning eco-caravan to D.C. for next round of talksBarack Obama has backed Congress' decision to delay a decision on additional auto industry loans, urging the carmakers to have a clear plan when they return to Capitol Hill in December, and the carmakers are already reportedly planning to show up in dramatic style, forming a caravan of Detroit's...
Nelson Ireson -
Carlsson customizes Mercedes' S-Class with RS-design kitMercedes' tech-leader and showcase car, the S-Class, gets the custom treatment from Carlsson with the RS design kit, presenting an exterior image to reflect the interior's cutting-edge equipment. Retaining much of the sophisticated look of the original, the kit adds a bit more aggression to the...
Alex Kaufmann -
China expected to overtake U.S. for Bentley sales by 2012Coming off record sales of 10,014 vehicles last year, Bentley's performance in 2008 hasn’t been going so well, with the current economic crisis starting to take its toll. This is especially the case in the United States, traditionally the strongest market for Bentley. The changing market...
Jeremy Weber -
Though BMW's latest 3-series treatment is something of a love-it-or-hate-it design, the gang at Zwickenpflug are decidedly in the 'love it' camp, leaving their customized car's exterior almost completely untouched. Inside, there's a score of changes, and the engine even gets some tweaks to boost output to 445hp (332kW). Exactly what was done to the 4.2L V8 inside the M3 isn't clear, but the ECU has been tweaked to yield a gain of almost 6%, likely from adjusting fuel ratios and ignition timing. The power gain takes the car's top speed up to a frightening 202mph (325km/h). The only exterior...
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Nissan GT-R still manages 3.9s 0-60 sans launch controlMuch noise has been made over the effect of the Nissan GT-R's hidden launch control feature, known to break transmissions and void warranties when abused. The Series II GT-R, due for 2010, won't even have the option to enable launch control, and so the tests to determine the GT-R's accelerative...
Ralph Hanson -
Mindset E-Motion hybrid car takes another step toward productionThere seems to be no end to the number of ecological concept cars being developed across the globe. Tough governmental standards and popular demand for clean cars are driving innovation in ever-greener directions, and the Swiss designer behind the Mindset E-Motion is tapping into that movement with...
Ralph Hanson -
Next Mercedes A and B-Class still being considered for U.S. saleThe trend towards smaller and more fuel efficient cars has caused Daimler to reconsider importing the next-generation of Mercedes-Benz A and B-class compact cars to the U.S., with the CEO of the company, Dieter Zetsche, stating earlier this year that such a move is likely given the current market...
James Martinez -
Next-generation BMW 1-series could get 'shooting brake' variantBMW released an updated version of the 1-series compact late last year and since then a suspicious prototype of the hatch has been captured running around German streets. At first appearance the car looks like an ordinary 1-series hatchback but look closer and you’ll notice several key...
Siddarth Raja -
Volvo's upmarket plans hindered by brand image, poor CO2 emissionsVolvo's plans to move upmarket have been known for some time now, but the carmaker's new European boss Stuart Kerr has said that a couple of important factors are holding back the brand from reaching its full potential - including, believe it or not, that its older cars are too reliable. Kerr, who...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
While many carmakers are struggling to stay afloat during the current economic crisis, Ford's regional operations in Europe have remained profitable and are forecast to stay that way through next year as well. Ford of Europe's pretax profit for the third quarter was $69 million, however this is still down from $293 million during the same period last year. Ford's European chief financial officer, Lewis Booth, predicted that the division would also be profitable in 2009, based on "current assumptions". There are certain conditions for this prediction to come about, including the overall...
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GM creates backup plan in case it doesn't get federal aidThe current financial woes of General Motors are no secret these days, with the Detroit 3 carmaker admitting recently that it will run out of cash early next year without the help of a federal loan. Despite the seriousness of the situation, as well as new polls that show the public is in favor of...
James Martinez -
BMW considering diesel 7-series for U.S.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...
Ralph Hanson -
Amosu unveils diamond-encrusted Lamborghini key fobBritish company Amosu Luxury has revealed another diamond encrusted key fob, this time for Lamborghini vehicles. Previously the company released a diamond encrusted key fob for Bentley, however this time the use of diamonds is even more extravagant. While the Bentley fob featured a total of 101...
Jeremy Weber -
BMW Performance goes online: 1-Series and 3-Series get first upgradesBMW has released a video on its website promoting its new 'BMW Performance' range of accessories, which is designed to allow customers to purchase factory-backed performance and aesthetic upgrades for their cars. We first saw details about the new BMW Performance range in September of last year...
Ralph Hanson -
Volkswagen Group boss hints at diesel BentleyPurists 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...
Kenneth Hall -
General Motors directors are reportedly considering a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and seeking court protection in an attempt to cope with the ailing carmaker’s dwindling cash reserves. According to people familiar with situation, the plans go directly against CEO Rick Wagoner’s claims that bankruptcy is not an option as it would turn away more customers from buying GM products. The information was first reported in the Wall Street Journal, which also claimed that GM has provided a statement saying the board had discussed bankruptcy but didn't view it as a "viable solution to the...
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'Project i' to spawn more vehicles beyond Mini-EBuilt in six months from start to finish, the Mini-E project is a remarkable example of just what can be done when bright minds are given the leeway and resources to create a modern EV from an existing platform. But at its root, the Mini-E still only a conversion of a combustion-engine vehicle, not...
Alex Kaufmann -
Mitsubishi pulls out of Detroit Auto ShowAuto shows are generally where carmakers like to 'wow' their future customers and show off their new models to both industry rivals and the press. But with the current economic crisis affecting the automotive industry so severely, many companies are choosing to forgo attending the current lineup of...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Fisker picks GM Ecotec engine for Karma plug-in hybridThe Fisker plug-in hybrid saloon has officially been revealed. Click here for all the details and images. Fisker announced today that it will be using General Motors' engines in its upcoming Karma plug-in hybrid vehicle, which will have a 50-mile electric-only range before the internal combustion...
James Martinez -
Tesla Motors applies for $400 million government aidFledgling electric car company Tesla Motors has encountered financing problems recently, prompting the firm to apply for a $400 million aid package from the Department of Energy. The DOE has already approved a $25 billion loan package designed to help American manufacturers create more efficient...
Ralph Hanson -
Honda may build Fit in U.S. to meet spiking demandThe 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...
Kenneth Hall