2013 MKS LA Auto Show 2011

Imagine one’s surprise when Lincoln unveiled its updated 2013 MKS flagship sedan and the grille -- and indeed the whole car -- looked nearly identical. This minor difference is like saying you’re going to give a guy in a chalk-stripe suit a makeover, putting him in a pinstripe suit and calling it a day.

But despite the mild change to the look, Lincoln says many exterior pieces are new. These include the aforementioned grille as well as the hood, headlamps, alloy wheels, LED taillights and exhaust tips.

Under the hood, the base 3.7-liter V-6 engine gets a bump in power; it will be rated at 300 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque and come in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations.

Lotus To Speed Through U.S. In 2012

Now Lotus says it’s ramping up production and bringing its Evora GTE road car to the United States. The Evora sold out in China with 114 orders, according to Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar.


Bahar says that the Evora’s racecar status and low growl combined with a serious demeanor make it stand out from some of the other street-legal racecars out there.


A Lotus Sports race team expects to run through a full North American and international race schedule next year.

Lotus IndyCar teams

Lotus stepped firmly into the Izod IndyCar Series with Thursday's introduction of three Indianapolis-based teams for its program.


Joining HVM Racing --which confirmed its Lotus plans last month at Las Vegas Motor Speedway -- as factory partner teams are Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Bryan Herta Autosport.

The announcement came at the Los Angeles Auto Show, where a year ago the British car manufacturer outlined plans to join IndyCar for the 2012 season.

Dreyer & Reinbold plans to continue with two cars full time, plus another for the Indianapolis 500 in May. HVM and BHA have been one-car operations the past couple of years, with the latter competing in only three races since its inception in 2010.

Of course, Bryan Herta's team is more than a small part-timer: It won this year's 500 with Dan Wheldon driving. The team fielded Alex Tagliani in the Las Vegas race in which Wheldon, who had switched to Sam Schmidt Motorsports, was killed in the 15-car crash in turn two.

Lotus Speeding Its Way Into IndyCar

Lotus announced at last year’s LA Auto Show that it would join Chevrolet and Honda as an INDYCAR engine manufacturer in 2012. Based in Norfolk, England, Group Lotus has competed in a variety of motorsports series, including domestic Indy-car racing, since Chapman founded the company in 1948. Jim Clark drove a Ford-powered Lotus chassis to victory in the 1965 Indianapolis 500, two years after the Formula One champion and American Dan Gurney launched the rear-engine revolution at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.


A partner with KV Racing Technology the past two seasons, this will be the first time Lotus has produced an engine for Indy-car competition. The 2012 season – featuring a new “Safety Cell “ chassis supplied by Dallara Automobili – will mark the first time multiple engine suppliers will compete in INDYCAR since 2005.

AMG plays with the new M-Class

Just days after Mercedes-Benz revealed the new M-Class SUV here at the Dubai motor show, the company’s Stuttgart headquarters released information on the new M63 AMG ready to go on sale in mid-2012.


The BMW X5M and X6M rival will bank on 525bhp, about 30 horses less than Munich’s SUV monsters, courtesy of the new 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine which also produces a hefty 700Nm of torque. Both these figures represent an increase of 15bhp and 70Nm over the old model.


Naturally, this being AMG, customers will be given the choice of a special package that boosts power to 557bhp and 760Nm of torque, and you’ll notice that this is neatly 2bhp more than the X5M produces.

Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG

The headlines include a naturally aspirated 5.5-litre V8 engine that's tuned to produce 416bhp and 398lb ft of torque, and capable of hurling the SLK from 0-60mph in just 4.6 seconds.

It delivers a relentless shove of acceleration and an increasingly intense exhaust note as you barrel up the road.

Perhaps even more startling, though, is the fact that it will also return 33.6mpg. To put that in perspective, it's a 30% improvement on the outgoing car.

Some of this gain is down to the fitment of a stop-start system and subtle efficiency tweaks, but it’s mainly thanks to cylinder shut-off technology. Under light engine loads – between 800rpm and 3600 – four of the eight cylinders can be switched off, dramatically reducing fuel consumption.

We haven’t been overly impressed with the latest SLK’s handling, which is all a bit on the stodgy side, but this AMG version shows what can be achieved with a little tinkering.

AMG sports suspension, beefier stabiliser bars, a bespoke steering rack and a system that employs the rear brakes to force the nose of the car to turn in aggressively all have a positive influence on the car's agility. Together, these mods also provide much higher levels of driver feedback.

Volkswagen Eos edition model "Sport & Style"

Volkswagen launches new special edition of the Eos on the market: The Eos "Sport & Style" is a price advantage of up to 2,250, - € offer. The sport package "Black Style Premium" rounds off the features for 1195, - from €.

Volkswagen Eos Sport & Style

As standard, the Eos Sport & Style on the radio navigation system RNS 315, the air conditioning system "Climatronic" and electrically adjustable lumbar support for front seats. These come with the park-pilot distance display on the navigation screen and a tire pressure monitor.

Volkswagen Eos Sport & Style

The interior features heated seats with gray Alcantara upholstery and seat bolsters in black leather, three-spoke leather steering wheel and door panels in leather optics. Grey topstitching and the ambient lighting for the foot pedals and brushed stainless steel and the sill guards foil "Sport & Style" in the door openings dominate the interior.

Volkswagen Eos Sport & Style

The exterior is determined primarily by the 17-inch alloy wheels "Michigan" with self-sealing mobility tires. Can be ordered as the "Black Style Premium" package. It includes 17-inch black alloy wheels "Minneapolis", roof and door mirrors in black, dark-tinted rear windows and sports suspension.

For the VW Eos Sport & Style, there are three petrol engines, and produce between 90 kW / 122 PS and 155 kW / 210 hp and a diesel engine with 103 kW / 140 hp. The starting price of the Eos Sport & Style is 32 325, - €. (Ampnet / jri)

Gemballa: Mistral and tornado swept through Dubai

The Dubai International Motor Show (10 to 14 November 2011) every two years attracts thousands of visitors from Arab and Asian regions in the Dubai World Trade Center. From Germany, presents Gemballa from Leonberg.

Gemballa GmbH managing director Andreas Schwarz with the Gemballa Mistral

To 221 square shows the refiner's current models based on the Porsche Panamera Mistral (970) and tornado based on the Porsche Cayenne (958). Technology, design and noble materials are the most important parameters in the transformation process of these two athletes comfort. The cars have received an almost complete rebuilding of the body by Replacements made of carbon.

Gemballa at the Dubai International Motor Show 2011

"We significantly reduce weight - and we get the original, but all the strength and comfort techniques. We also use two vehicles at any bonded attachments. The original components made of sheet steel or plastic, such as fenders, hood, fenders and the doors are completely replaced by new parts made in carbon, "says managing director Andrew Black Gemballa GmbH to PRESTIGE CARS.

Gemballa Lounge at the Dubai International Motor Show 2011

The bonnet, front and rear aprons, side sills of the doors and the exterior of the tailgate to be consistently manufactured in carbon fiber. This allows a weight reduction of about 70 kilograms. All accessories are attached to the original mounting points on the body.

Gemballa GmbH managing director Andreas Schwarz in conversation

The wheel arches are filled with huge wheels in 22 inch. There are specially designed forged monoblock aluminum wheels are used, which are characterized by great strength and very low weight. The slim design of the wheel spokes look even more impressive and larger in diameter.

Gemballa Tornado Interior

The new braking systems have been developed in collaboration with Brembo and are tuned to Tornado and Mistral. Massive 411 mm discs with six-piston fixed calipers on the front axle. With 380 mm discs with four-piston fixed calipers, the rear axle is dimensioned remotely strong. All four brake discs are internally ventilated, perforated and grooved.

Gemballa Interior Mistral

The first stage of the engine conversion on a turbocharged engine of the Cayenne SUV provides 580 horsepower. The tornado is in a special but delivered with the second stage. With larger turbochargers and other performance-enhancing components 721 horsepower can be realized.

When Mistral sees the first stage of a "more discreet" in front of performance 610 hp and 850 Nm. Nearly 721 hp at 1,000 Nm torque applied provides the second level for the power-hungry giant room. This force is generated by the interaction of the newly designed exhaust manifold, turbocharger, intercooler and exhaust system, with its deep sonorous tone.

Gemballa at the Dubai International Motor Show 2011

The interiors convince pampered with tasteful color combinations, and the future owners of fine leather, Alcantara or nubuck with color-coordinated comfort and control applications. No vehicle is unique.

Stir in Dubai is expected to be so well taken care of, as the first recordings of show here today. And by the way: Who would not like to take in the cozy lounge and the two cars place ...?

redesigned 2012 Toyota Camry

Camry has been the best selling passenger car in America. Since its launch in 1983, we Yanks have bought 9.7 million of them with 15 million copies purchased worldwide. 6,500,000 of them have been built in Georgetown, Kentucky. If you’ve bought one in the past 15 years, there’s a 90 percent chance it’s still on the road.


Impressive stuff. There are those who have knocked Camry for being plain or vanilla. Ask yourself this (and answer truthfully): If you had a machine that printed money, would you tamper with it in any way, shape or form? I’ll take that as a no.

2012 VW Passat Photos

Spied! Ferrari 599 Successor

There’s another new Ferrari on the way, and the spy photographers at Motor Trend managed to snap a picture of it testing. The car will be a replacement for the current 599 GTB, and is currently codenamed F152.

Like the 599, the new car is expected to be a front-engine coupe that packs V-12 power. In fact, the test car seen here is most likely simply the body of a 599 GTB slapped atop the mechanicals of the new car. The new Ferrari will most likely use the same 6.3-liter V-12 that debuted in the Ferrari FF, where the engine makes 651 hp and 504 lb-ft of torque. The current 599 GTB uses a 6.0-liter V-12 good for 611 hp and 448 lb-ft; Ferrari claims the car tackles the 0-to-62-mph dash in 3.7 seconds before reaching a top speed of 205 mph.

Audi A5 Sheds Two Cylinders in Midcycle Refresh

As part of a midcycle refresh for its A5 coupe and convertible range, Audi announced Wednesday that the high-performance S5 model would lose its normally aspirated 354-horsepower V-8 in a trade for the brand’s 333-horsepower supercharged V-6, similar to the one used in the S4 sedan. The 6, Audi says, is about 20 percent more fuel-efficient than the outgoing 8.

The 2012 RS5, however, is expected to retain a 4.2-liter V-8 when it goes on sale in North America next year.

The 2013 models, which are to be shown at the Frankfurt auto show in September, feature new grilles, front fascias and headlamp designs, and a shift from hydraulic steering to electric power. The basic A5 coupe will carry on with the workhorse VW Group turbocharged 2-liter in-line 4 that makes 211 horsepower and 258 pound feet of torque. Subtle cosmetic tweaks include new steering wheel designs, a new selector for automatic transmissions and a revised finish for the instrument panel and center console.

NYPD to get first Chevy Volt police cars

New York City has bought 50 Chevrolet Volts that will go to the NYPD, as well as to the fire and sanitation departments.

The 50 Volts were among 70 EVs in NYC's latest round of buying under green Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a big fan of electrics. Also bought were 10 electric Ford Transit Connect vans and 10 electric Navistar eStar utility trucks. The 70 bring New York City's fleet of EVs to 430 and were paid for in part with U.S. Department of Energy and New York Power Authority grants.

"This is the latest and largest-ever addition of electric vehicles to the city's fleet, which is already the largest municipal clean-air vehicle fleet in the nation," Bloomberg said in a press statement. "We will continue to lead by example."

The NYPD already has electric scooters and golf cars, so the Volt is maybe a step up from those rather than a step down from a Ford Crown Vic. The department also has hybrids, including Prius.

BMW unveils London 2012 Olympics vehicles

Electric vehicles will make up part of BMW's fleet during London 2012'

BMW has unveiled a range of cars, motorcycles and bicycles that will be used during the 2012 Olympics in London.

The main automotive sponsor of the Games wants to use the event to showcase its green technology.

Some 4,000 BMW vehicles will roam the streets of the UK capital next summer, with many of them electric or petrol-electric hybrids.

In addition, conventional diesel-powered cars will be used, BMW said.

Maruti Suzuki to launch new Swift next month

Maruti Suzuki India Pvt. Ltd (MSIL) is all set to introduce the new Swift, one of India's best-selling cars that have always been “wait-listed” since its launch in 2005 due to its high demand. The next generation premium hatchback, to be launched next month, will be based on a new platform, making it much bigger and roomier that the existing Swift besides having innovative design, safety and luxury features.

To be priced a bit higher that the existing Swift, MSIL has asked all its dealers to start advance bookings for the new car and also give option to those who have current bookings to own the new Swift. The new Swift, which is already available in the European market, is aimed at consolidating the MSIL's position in the premium hatchback market that is now in the radar of all major carmakers.

“The new Swift is bigger with more leg room, premium interiors with new dashboard design, best-in-class fit-finish and high-end stereo. It will come with many new features, a new VVT petrol engine and better output for improved performance. The new Swift will be more efficient on fuel consumption, while the hot-selling diesel option will continue to be offered with more variants,” said a senior MSIL official.

Twingo Renault sport R1

Twingo Renaultsport R1 and R2 Trophy Front Angle View - 1

Twingo Renaultsport R1 and R2 Trophy

Twingo Renaultsport R1 and R2 Trophy

ABT 2012 Beetle Customization Project

ABT Sportsline has now announced that they are currently working hard on new version of the VW Beetle Kempten. This is huge, as ABT is the world’s largest tuner for VW group and the guys take their work very seriously.

The tuner has more than a lot of experience, what is happening under the hood of the 2012 bug and has distributed Estimative performance levels for the project: the 1.2 TSI will be increased from 105 hp standard and 140 hp, while growing 1.4 TSI from 160 hp 201 is PS. “Offers the two liter turbocharged VW 200 hp or 147 kW, and we expect that the ABT 230 / 240 PS version has to offer,” said Dept.

Meanwhile, get the diesel, the 125 hp 1.6 TDI with 105 hp instead of 170 hp and 2.0 TDI 140 hp instead of the usual.

Mitsubishi i-MiEV M and i-MiEV G Versions

Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi has decided that two new versions of the electric i-MiEV, the competition, like the Nissan Leaf to appoint in their domestic release. The company has set up a new budget version called i-MiEV M and a model with a longer driving range and higher spec trim called i-MiEV announced G.

In addition to the M-budget version of the Japanese showrooms comes on 25 July carry a price tag of 2.6 million yen (about $ 32,000) to 3.8 million ($ 46.900).

Moreover, the price has continued to only 1.88 million yen ($ 23,200) after government grants are reduced, so that they compete with the Nissan Leaf (2.99 million yen / $ 36,900).

But there is a catch. The price of the model that many had to reduce, Mitsubishi reduced lighting on the driving range to about 75 miles of 100 miles for the previous model compromise.

Ford Fiesta Sport Special Edition

The Ford Fiesta Sport Edition includes a complete styling kit, lowered side sills complete with a distinctive spoiler for the front apron and tailgate. The new model is only available as a three-door model, a fact that makes it more sporty, and will be equipped with Panther 17-inch aluminum wheels, the Sport Edition Fiesta anniversary package complete.