2013 SRT Viper: First ‘Photo’

Here's the first teaser image of the newly de-Dodged 2013 SRT Viper — posted moments ago on the DriveSRT Facebook Page ahead of its expected debut sometime in the next couple of months.

The shadowy serpent that is beginning to emerge from the teaser shot has a distinctly Italian look to it, don't ya think? Anyway, all we know now is that "the next generation Viper will make its return to the product lineup in late 2012 as a 2013 model," according to SRT Brand & Motorsports President/CEO Ralph Gilles in a press release last month.

Also, that from now on, the Dodge brand will also no longer play host to the Viper. Instead the supercar will just be called the SRT Viper.

Live your dream car one click at a time

 

The Click Car Mouse and USB Stick range that has recently launched in South Africa lets you hold the car of your dreams from a Maserati GranTursimo to a pearl white Fiat 500 in the palm of your hand.

Licensed by the car manufacturers, the Click Car Mouse is a miniature near perfect replica of the real cars they’re modelled on. They are designed to a very high technical standard using only the highest quality materials. Most models are available in both wired and wireless versions.

Pagani Zonda F Wrecked in Hong Kong

Due to its outstanding performance, raw beauty and exclusivity the Pagani Zonda is arguably one of the most favoured supercars ever built.  So whenever one has a near-death experience or worse, makes it to Zonda heaven, the reaction from car enthusiasts is always one of bereavement.

Unfortunately a recent event was reported of a Pagani Zonda, allegedly owned by one of the top executives at Dolce & Gabbana in Hong Kong, crashing near Tsim Sha Tsui. Local news reported that the driver lost control of the vehicle causing it to collide into a tree and then as if that wasn’t bad enough, into a traffic light. Fortunately the driver was not injured.

Nissan Juke-R Gets Taken For a Drive in Dubai

Watch Mike Spinelli as he drives the new Nissan Juke -R concept down in Dubai this week on Road Testament.

The Juke-R, first launched back in October, that caused some controversy among the Nissan executives, is a mashup of the Juke and the GT-R with an unusual distended body created to accommodate the advanced all-wheel-drive system, twin-clutch transmission and 3.8-litre twin-turbo 480-horsepower V6 engine.

Rolls Royce customisation proves to be popular

The Rolls-Royce Ghost is a huge sales success and the company has revealed that 56% of buyers choose to customize their vehicles in an exclusive fashion.

While customization and Rolls-Royce are virtually synonymous, the take rate for bespoke Ghosts is slightly lower than the Phantom’s impressive 80% rate. Despite this, customers have still been ordering everything from custom paint jobs to luxurious interiors with champagne sets, humidors and picnic cabinets.

Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös said in a recent statement that “It is always our goal to exceed our clients’ highest expectations and fulfill their innermost desires. With highly bespoke Phantom and Ghost models, we are able to achieve this.”

VW could conclude Porsche takeover this year

Despite reports that  investors filed a $2.6 billion suit against Porsche over the Stuttgart maker’s attempt to gobble up VW and an arbitration application against Volkswagen, according to Der Spiegel, a VW executive has said that its ownership of Porsche could finally be concluded this year.

VW had initially predicted that the deal would be concluded by last year but then released a statement in September stating that too many hurdles and unknowns remained concerning investigations and economic consequences for the deal to get done any time in 2011.

These hurdles involved previous lawsuits, including one brought by American investors in 2010, and the fact that VW couldn’t evaluate Porsche adequately until they were settled.

However, these latest reports mention nothing of lawsuits and instead, the resolution of the issues include a one-billion-euro tax payment that VW can avoid by creating a holding company by 2014 to control the Porsche stake and VW agreeing to contractually assure Porsche retains control over its models and where it spends its money. According to the above mentioned executive, this opens the door for VW to absorb the final 50.1 percent of Porsche it doesn’t currently own, for a price of €3.9 billion.


In the meantime, Reuters reports that VW and Porsche are working “at arm’s length” even though they have the same CEO and CFO and develop cars together, a fact which is testing CEO Martin Winterkorn’s patience. Earlier this month, Winterkorn was quoted as saying he wants to bring the companies closer “without needing to have a lawyer stand next to a Porsche employee every time he screws something into a Volkswagen or vice-versa.”

Audi TT 2014 Scooped

Car Magazine has scooped some pics of the early prototype of the third generation Audi TT for 2014 on test in Europe as Audi prepares its new coupe for development.

The car’s mean looking front, boasts a hectagonal singleframe grille, a pair of large low-mounted air intakes as well as wraparound combined headlamp-and-indicator units. To increase the downforce at the rear it houses an active air dam which is supported by a neatly integrated high-mounted roof spoiler.
The interior will showcase a variation of the fully animated single screen instrument panel devised for the next Audi R8 Supercar.

As for the driving performance, based on the same flexible MQB architecture as the next 2012 VW Golf Mk7 and Audi A3, the new TT relies once more heavily on four-cylinder engines. The two petrol-fed four-cylinders deliver 180 and 220bhp, the diesel develops 178hp and the racier TTS will be equipped with a 276bhp turbocharged 2.0 litre. Quattro is standard on this model and on the next TT RS, which borrows the 385bhp kraftwerk upgrade from the 2012 limited-edition.

Hyundai i20 facelift (2012) scooped in Europe

Hyundai is readying a series of mid-life pick-me-ups for a facelifted i20 supermini to be shown in the next month.


Visible under the disguise of these prototypes is a new headlamp style and front bumper - designed to bring the i20 in line with the latest Hyundai design look.
Judging by the camouflage at the rear of the i20, a similar facelift will be bestowed on the rear of the hatch as well.

What to expect on the facelifted Hyundai i20

Look closely at the front end of the i20 and you might just make out a new 'swirl' type detail to the front lamps. It's a design touch already seen on the i30 and i40 headlights.
Also expect a tidy-up inside the Hyundai i20 in an attempt to make the i20's cabin feel a tad more upmarket.

Facelift time for the Hyundai i20

The i20 was introduced at the 2008 Paris motor show, so it's due a facelift.
Word is it could be launched as early as the 2012 Geneva motor show - in a little under six weeks' time.
CAR expects to hear confirmation of the revised Hyundai i20 in February 2012.

Mini Cancels The Rocketman mini Mini

CAR Magazine has reported that Mini’s mini Mini also known as the Rocketman has been cancelled.
Some features of this futuristic city car include double hinged doors, carbon fibre spats, suede leather and paper material used in the interior, emphasised tail-lights and pull-out drawer at the trunk for loading and holding personal items.

Among the many new Minis that BMW have recently signed off on, the Rocketman, with its extremely short wheel-base, is unfortunately not one of them.  The Rocketman concept was originally revealed as part of a design study showing what a shrunken Mini could look like in the twenty first century, that was true to the brand’s core values.

The reasons for the cancellation of its production are not due to marketing or costs but rather a variety of problems that included the considerable investment that Munich would have to make to make the city car meet current regulations and the stability, handling and crash performance of the small vehicle. In addition, The Rocketman concept was just 3419mm long (versus 3723mm for a current three-door Mini hatch) and 1907mm wide.

2025 Lincoln Student Project Could Be a Reality

Two students from Lawrence Technology University in Michigan, U.S.A Colin Bonathan and Jeeho Cha have presented renderings of their proposal for an all-electric Lincoln Continental for production in 2025. The project is fully endorsed by Lincoln’s parent company, Ford who were very impressed by the futuristic and innovative vehicle.

The idea started in the summer of last year when the design students began to work on the concept. It was presented to officials of the American automotive giant and it had the desired effect with the agreement of an endorsement deal. At the time, The Ford officials liked it so much that they commissioned to have a quarter-scale model displayed at the recent Detroit Auto Show.

Dodge Journey and Fiat 500 recalled for safety issues

Chrysler has decided to recall a total number of 340 vehicles consisting of Dodge Journeys and Fiat 500s built between the 24 and 26 October 2011

The recall is as a result of contaminated brake fluid that was put in during the vehicles’ assembly. According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these vehicles “may experience a degradation of the sealing components within the brake system.”

The consequences of this incident could lead to the loss of breaking ability and result in a crash.
To resolve the problem, Chrysler will be replacing, free of charge of course, any vehicle components that would have come in contact with the contaminated hydraulic fluid.

Corvette C7 (2013) - the new spy shots

GM is readying the new C7 Corvette - and these fresh spy photos reveal the new 2013 'Vette on test in the snow ahead of its planned debut in a year's time, at the 2013 Detroit auto show.


This is what engineers at the General call an IVER prototype; that stands for Initial Vehicle Engineering Release. It's been doing the rounds of cold-weather testing in the US.

Corvette C7: the lowdown

This is the seventh-generation Corvette (hence the C7 tag). You won't find a more American take on the sueprcar, now in its sixth decade.
A go-faster ZR1 version will be launched alonside a regular Corvette. With the quad pipes on this prototype, we can only imagine the sound this V8 will muster.
Underpinning the C7 is GM's rear-wheel sports car architecture, dubbed Y platform. It is an upgraded version of what underpinned the C6 Corvette, and packs a transaxle for more balanced weight distribution.

Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder Unveiled

The new 2012 rear wheel drive Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder has been unveiled.  As an entry level Gallardo the LP 550-2 Spyder is currently the cheapest open-top model on the market. It combines open-air driving with the 5,204cc V10′s 550bhp directed to the rear wheels, instead of all four.

With 550 horsepower the Spyder jumps to 62mph in just 4.2 seconds with a top speed of 198mph. Performance is boosted by the loss of four-wheel drive, bringing dry kerb weight down to 1520kg.

It has 45% locking rear differential and a different Corsa setting on the electronic safety systems, allowing greater drift angles, redeveloped ESP stability control, retuned dampers and altered aero balance to cope with the Gallardo’s rear-wheel drive set-up.

Stephan Winkelmann, president and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini said that “This will appeal in particular to a very special group of customers that enjoy a spirited driving style and also like to experience the sheer pleasure of open- air driving. This special model with rear-wheel drive is a logical expansion of our line-up of spyder models with all-wheel drive.”

Mitsubishi teases its Geneva motor show 2012 debut

What do we know about Mitsubishi's Geneva 2012 debut?

 

A brief statement says: 'The Geneva motor show will see the world premiere of a strategic and innovative premium vehicle, to be retailed sequentially during 2012 – a car of substance that will reflect a gradual transformation in Mitsubishi’s design language.

 
'This unveiling will confirm the start of an all-new generation of global products for Mitsubishi Motors, consistent with the ambitions set in MMC’s “Jump 2013” business plan for a greener and more global Mitsubishi. Fittingly, this complete family of cars / crossovers / SUVs will see a gradual transition to a re-focused design language.'

The World’s First Audi R8 Limo

Carbonyte UK will be collaborating with Limo Broker out in the UK to create the world’s first, super-stretched Audi R8 V10. Limo Broker is already known for their development of the stretched Ferrari 360 Modena limousine. The project has already received so much attention that it has reportedly been fast-tracked for completion in the next few months.

The fastest car that Audi has ever built will retain the 5.2l V10 engine that would normally propel it to more than 190mph but will lose its great handling and maybe even its dignity too. Despite the enthusiasm for such a vehicle, it is likely that it will generate some controversy by car fans everywhere. The modified supercar will seat eight passengers in bucket seats and getting in and out will be facilitated by the addition of four gullwing doors on both sides.

Limo Broker has announced that work on the eight seater Audi R8 conversion has already started and they estimate that it’ll be completed by the summer of 2012.

Ferrari FF converted to run on bio-ethanol packs 875 hp

There are drawbacks to every kind of alternative to burning fossil fuels in our cars. Electric cars don't have enough range.Hybrids are burdened with what essentially boils down to two parallel powertrains. Hydrogen is limited to where it is available. Bio-ethanol has its own drawbacks, but don't tell that to the performance enthusiast. That's because E85 – similar to what IndyCars run on but mixed with 15% pump gasoline – is not only a renewable and cleaner source of energy, it also provides more power.

Take the Koenigsegg Agera R, for example. With 927 horsepower on tap from ordinary 95-octane gasoline, the Koenigsegg is already one of the fastest, most powerful cars money can buy. But fill it with E85 and it offers up almost 1,100 hp. Now a Norwegian firm is offering an aftermarket bio-ethanol conversion for the Ferrari FF that provides a similar transformation.

2013 Shelby GT500 to be Auctioned

For the last several years, Ford has been teaming up with Barrett-Jackson to auction off some specially developed vehicles for charity.  Those past vehicles have included the first production examples of the Shelby GT500KR and Shelby GT as well as special one-offs like last year’s Grabber Blue Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca. The charity for which all of these cars have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for is the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

Once again, Ford will be auctioning off one of its special vehicles for charity but this time, it will be different from the others. Up for auction in 2012 will be a 2013 Shelby GT500 development car used by SVT to hone the production ‘Stang. This prototype was run extensively at Sebring and the high speed oval at Ford’s Arizona proving grounds. It was even driven by Carroll Shelby himself during the development process.

Configure Your Very Own Spider 458 Online

Now you can configure your very own Spider 458 with Ferrari’s latest web-based supercar configurator that is live on the Italian auto manufacturer’s website.

You can choose from a number of different specifications starting with the exterior and working your way into the interior of the vehicle. Exterior options include paint colour (with a range of metallic, non-metallic and 1950′s colours) rims, break calipers, tyres and carbon fibre options. The interior becomes more exciting with interior colouring and materials, seats and style, carpets, interior trim and other interior options including infotainment system, rev counter and carbon fibre trim to choose from.

New Tuning Software for BMW’s N55 by Dinan

Since its launch in the 2010 BMW 535i the N55 engine has been packed between the front fenders of some 10 different BMW models, ranging from the 135i coupe through the X5 SUV. The N55 has also proven to be very difficult to tune, leaving owners with few options for added horsepower.

But now BMW performance specialist Dinan has stepped up with a Stage 2 performance software update that is available for the 2011-12 335i, 2011-12 135i, 2012 X5 xDrive 35i and 2011-12 X6 xDrive 35i models. For a price of $1, 999, the software offers 355 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque and a gain of 55 horsepower and 101 pound-feet of torque on a 2011 335i. The software is uploaded to the car via the diagnostic port and so no “black box” add-on is required.

Dinan claims that the software enhances driveability throughout the engine’s range, yet produces quicker acceleration due to the significant gain in torque.

Dinan is also offering a warranty of up to 4 years and 50,000 miles, ensuring that consequential damages aren’t a concern for either the owner or the servicing dealer.

Audi R5, Porsche 550, VW Bluesport 'on hold'

Numerous indications are pointing to the exciting mid-engined VW, Porsche and Audi sports cars being on ice.
The group had been collaborating to develop the VW Bluesport, Porsche 550 and Audi R5 - some observers had hailed the new roadsters as the Elise from Germany.

 

Porsche doubts over the 550

But at the weekend Porsche CEO Matthias Muller told German business rag Wirtschaftswoche that he was worried a cheaper Porsche may dilute the brand's image. 'Possibly we need to wait until the next generation of customers before the idea of a small roadster will work for Porsche.'
The new entry-level Porsche, depicted here in our artist's impression (red car), was viewed internally as the successor to the 1950s Porsche 550 and was being tentatively slated for launch in 2014. That date now seems very optimistic.

Rare Jaguar XJ220S to be Auctioned

An exceptionally rare Jaguar, the XJ220S, that is headed for auction in Arizona is expected to be sold for between $225 000 and $300 000. The vehicle is chassis number 784 and has been with the owner for the past eight years.

The regular Jaguar XJ220 was a limited production run of 350 units but the rare model that is up for auction is one of only six units that were produced.

The XJ220S was built with the assistance of  Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) who stripped most of the original XJ220′s aluminum body and replaced it with superlight carbon fibre. The model was also fitted with a front splitter, wider sills and an adjustable rear spoiler that resulted in an even more aggressive stance.

The Jag originally came with a V6 power unit that produced 680hp (689PS/507kW) and 712Nm (526 lb-ft) of torque, but a new titanium exhaust system by TWR and additional engine updates has raised it to approximately 700 hp (709PS/521kW).

Dubai Police Fines Drivers For Making Car Theft Too Easy

In an attempt to counter a surge in vehicle thefts, drivers in Dubai will face a fine of 300 Emirati Dirhams (about US$81) if police find their cars unattended with the engines running while parked.

It is apparently not uncommon in Dubai for a driver to simply let the car run while ducking into a store or bank or mosque, and it is also increasingly common for those idling cars to be stolen; at least ten percent of car thefts happen when the perp simply drives away with an empty idling vehicle.

Authorities also strongly recommend that drivers lock their doors when the vehicle is unattended and avoid carrying valuable papers or other items in their cars. No word yet on whether police also suggest that drivers use headlights after sunset and add more gasoline to the tank when it runs low.

Facebook Answers Audi Engineer’s Cry For Help During Dubai 24 Hours Race

Eight-and-a-half hours into the Dubai 24 Hours endurance race, United Autosports mechanics had a question about their Audi R8 GT3 LMS racecar. Lucky for them, a very well-connected Audi engineer was reading.

"Does anyone know where the location is for the starter relay and main relay on a R8? Is it in the front BSG or fusebox?" the team posted on Facebook via Audi Sport's FB page. As it turns out, engineer Markus Ferlora, of Audi's high-performance division quattro GmbH, saw the question, and left a detailed answer:

It's right rear [sic] the last two big Relais are for the starter. The first two big Relais are the main Relais for the Engine.

And there you have it. Facebook is the new shop manual. Thanks a million, Zuckerberg.

BMW Confirms X4 to be produced in the U.S.

BMW has recently announced plans to invest $900 million into their plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina for the production of the upcoming X4 crossover.

The investment will create 300 new jobs by the end of 2012, increasing production capacity to 350,000 units and became necessary in response to a growing global demand for BMW’s X-Model crossovers.

A smaller version of the X6, the X4 is being designed for the emerging compact crossover market.Although the company have not yet revealed full details about the model, it will be based on the X3, which was also built on the same plant. Expected to launch in 2014, to rival that of the Range Rover Evoque and the Porsche Cajun, the X4 will reportedly offer a variety of four- and six-cylinder engines.

India Angry Over Insulting Top Gear Episode

A Top Gear “India Special” episode that was broadcast twice over the Christmas period has angered the world’s second largest country who claim that the show had given a “disgusting” portrayal of their country.

During the episode host Jeremy Clarkson was filmed interviewing locals while operating a trouser press in his boxer shorts and with a Jaguar XJS with a lavatory fixed to the boot. The Telegraph has reported that now the Indian High Commission in London has formally complained to the BBC, accusing its producers of deceiving them over the nature of the programme, which was jokingly billed as a “trade mission” but instead presented a stereotypical and unfavourable image of the country.

 

In a letter sent to the Top Gear producer, officials at the High Commission condemned the latest broadcast as “tasteless” and accused the BBC of breaching undertakings about the filming. The letter copied to BBC’s director general, Mark Thompson stated that “I write this to convey our deep disappointment over the documentary for its content and the tone of the presentation.

Kia Ceed (2012) first official picture

The first Kia Ceed, launched in 2006, signalled a step change for the Korean car company. Not only was it designed and built in Europe (in Germany and Slovakia respectively) but it was also good enough to be considered a worthy rival for the Focus, Golf, Astra et al. From Soul to Optima, from Picanto to Rio, nearly everything that's followed has been good or great. And now there’s a new Kia Ceed…

2013 Audi A3 Interior Revealed

Audi has recently unveiled the interior of its next-generation 2013 Audi A3 at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. While the car will only be officially revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March, there are some details about the new car’s interior that are now available.

The main feature of the Audi’s interior is its simple design and clean layout. Design and layout features include a gesture-recognizing touchpad that is integrated in the round rotary pushbutton making it a touch-wheel, an electrically deploying 7-inch display at just 11mm in thickness, a dash-mounted monitor that generates 3D graphics and the Audi Phone Box – a universal interface between the car and mobile phone.

2013 Mini Roadster improves upon new Coupe's formula

 

As much as we like the new-for-2012 Mini Coupe, some of us on the Autoblog staff aren't won over by the low-slung hardtop. We love the standard Cooper hatchback, and while the Coupe's driving dynamics are pure Mini goodness, we just can't wrap our heads around the awkward styling (especially in certain color pallets), limited visibility and lack of functionality.

Nissan agrees to make engines for Mercedes in Tennessee

Mercedes-Benz and Nissan plan on working together in the future, sharing the Mercedes A-Class platform and engines in an effort save cash on engineering and manufacturing resources. A big part of that collaboration is now official with a joint engine announcement.

Nissan will produce high-end four-cylinder engines at its Decherd, Tennessee facility. The engine will find its way under the hood of Mercedes and Infiniti models beginning in 2014, with a max capacity of 250,000 units per year.

Chevy Silverado Realtree Concept

Chevrolet has teamed up with outdoor outfitter Realtree, with whom they have had a seven year relationship, to create the Silverado Realtree Concept. Called the “ultimate hunting pickup” and based on the Silverado HD 2500, the new concept car will debut at the 2011 SEMA Motor Show.

The champagne silver exterior emblazoned with Realtree graphics, a custom front bumper, winch and 35-inch off-road tyres is powered by a Duramax diesel with 765 pound-feet of torque. Other features include retractable running boards for improved entry and exit and a custom designed rear cab for all outdoor gear storage.

 

The interior continues the outdoor theme with dark cocoa leather seats bearing camouflage piping and orange stitching.


Marketing manager of Chevrolet pickups Tony Truelove has said that, ”This truck is a celebration of the seven-year partnership between Chevrolet and Realtree. It’s only natural to combine the dependable, long-lasting Silverado HD with Realtree, the best gear for the outdoors.”

Ford Reveals Mondeo for Europe and Oz

Ford has officially revealed its all-new Mondeo sedan at the Detroit Motor Show. Unveiled as the Ford Fusion, the new model will be badged as the Mondeo for the European and Australian market as part of the auto manufacturer’s One Ford policy for designing an engineering vehicles to be distributed to the global market.

The first noticeable styling tweak, is the similarity of the Ford/Mondeo’s bold and broad grille to that of the Aston Martin. The new design of the Mondeo is carried over from the Evos Concept car revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011 as well as the more recently revealed EcoSport in Delhi.

Toyota unveils updated 2013 Land Cruiser

For a country that loves (or, at least, loved) sport utility vehicles, the Toyota Land Cruiser has certainly slipped to the back of our minds. It carries one of the most iconic go-anywhere, do-anything nameplates in the industry, and yet in 2011, only 1,662 Land Cruisers were sold here in the United States, making it one of the ten worst-selling vehicles of the year. But since the vehicle's product cycles are largely dictated by other markets where it's more popular, the big Toy continues to carry on, and for the 2013 model year, there are a host of new updates.

Slight visual tweaks to the exterior include the addition of LED running lamps up front, as well as HID low-beam headlamps and a refreshed grille. Aside from that, not much else has changed as far as design goes, and while the Land Cruiser does look a bit old, it's decidedly rugged and handsome.

The Land Cruiser's 5.7-liter V8 is carried over unchanged, still with 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque on tap, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Of course, because the Land Cruiser is billed as a true off-road vehicle, driving aids like KDSS (Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System) and Multi-Terrain Select are standard. Inside, the Land Cruiser gets a brand new hard-drive-based navigation system complete with Toyota's new Entune infotainment system.

Ford EcoSport Concept Revealed

Ford’s chief executive officer Alan Mulally has recently revealed the automaker’s new EcoSport concept car at the 2012 Delhi Motor Show.

The eco-friendly SUV launched alongside seven other new Ford models in India by the middle of the decade. Based on Fiesta running gear, the B-platform is destined to underpin more than two million vehicles a year by 2015.

Under the hood, the vehicle is fitted with Ford’s smallest engine  - a 118bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine that will churn out 120PS of max torque. A 1.5-litre diesel powerplant is to follow.
The production EcoSport is being built in South America under the One Ford strategy so while Delhi will be the first to receive the new model, sales will follow in South America, China, North America and possibly Europe at a later stage.

The New 2012 Peugeot 107

Peugeot’s new 2012 107, that was shown at the Brussels Motor Show, has been given a facelift that brings it in line with Peugeot’s new aesthetic. The new model is the first major change to the Franco-Japanese city triplets for the 107 that was jointly developed with Citroen and Toyota.

Exterior modifications include a tight-fitting look with a sculpted-out area of the bonnet with the combative lion badge. The grille and bumper graphics are lightly retouched too, while the nose has been fitted with LED day-running lights. The model is available as a three or five door.

Under the hood, the 998cc triple has 68bhp and 70lb ft of torque and if pushed far enough, the driver can reach 62mph in just 14.2 seconds. The three-cylinder petrol engine has been adjusted to nudge emisisons under 100g/km by a single digit of CO2

The 107 has also received a technology boost with Bluetooth connectivity and USB plugs for music access.

Priced from just £7, 995, the new 107 will be available in the UK from February the timing of which is perfect to compete with VW’s new Up.

MINI Cargo panel van set for Geneva show debut

MINI is set to unveil a MINI Cargo panel-van-style two-seat vehicle at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March. The new variant will expand upon the now-six vehicle MINI line-up.

The new MINI Cargo will be based on the MINI Clubman wagon, only instead of second row seating, it’s set to feature an extended flat loading space all the way to the rear barn-style doors. The side rear windows will also be replaced by sheet metal to finish off the panel van theme.

Renault Unveils Koleos Bose Edition

Based on the Carminat trim package, Renault has unveiled its 2012 Koleos Bose Edition, that is distinguished by faux aluminium mirrors, tinted rear windows and 17-inch alloy wheels.

The interior showcases special seat upholstery with black lacquer trim and aluminium sill plates. Of course, there is the obligatory Bose sound system that has been fitted inside the vehicle equipped with seven speakers and a subwoofer. The Bose badging on the side of the vehicle signifies the special edition.

Power is provided by a 2.0 dCi 150 engine that produces 150 PS (110 kW/148 hp) and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque. Customers will be able to choose between three power delivery configurations: six-speed manual/front-wheel drive, six-speed manual/4×4 or six-speed automatic/4×4.

The new model, that starts at a price of 29, 400 Euros in France, is expected to launch in March 2012.

Novitec Tweaks Alfa Romeo Giulietta

German tuning house Novitec Automobile GmbH has decided to do some tweaking on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. The company, known for their tuning of Ferrari’s, has experience with Alfa and decided to make some exciting improvements on the Italian hatchback. The vehicle prides itself on offering power and speed with a reasonable price tag attached.


Beginning in the engine bay, Novitec made adjustments with the full range of gasoline and diesel engines available, to squeeze out an extra 15-30 horsepower depending on the model.  Additional features include stainless steel sport mufflers, wheels with diameters of up to 20 inches and an aerodynamic-enhancement package.

The front of the vehicle will undergo some changes that will result in a reduced lift on the front axle, the rear will be fitted with a bumper with integrated diffuser and the side skirts will create a more sleeker appearance.

Citroen Tubik Concept Car

According to Citroen, it’s time that travel became meangingful again and the French auto manufacturer intends to do just this with its new Tubik concept, a modern take on the MPV. Citroen describes the Tubik as “a high-tech executive shuttle based on one key idea: travel should be fun”. The futuristic nine- seater people mover draws inspiration from the Type H or TUB (French slang for a front-wheel drive commercial vehicle) van from Citroen’s auto history.

The interior showcases seats covered in purple leather and felt that can swivel and be re-positioned to create a lounge and/or sleeping area. The passenger area also comes fitted with an HD TV screen and surround sound. Although there is plenty of lighting, there is a significant lack of windows in the passenger area, which for some may not be ideal. The driver’s seat resembles that of a circular pod almost completely separated from the rest of the vehicle.

BMW Remote App For Android

After leading the way in bringing iPod integration and iPhone connectivity to its vehicles, BMW has now brought the same functionality to Android with the soon to be released remote app for Google’s open-source OS.

As with Apple’s OS, the app will allow drivers to remotely lock, unlock and locate their vehicles. In addition, the driver will be able to access the Climate Control function to activate the vehicle’s auxiliary ventilation or heating and a Flash Light or Horn Blow function can be used to gain a visible or audible reminder of the car’s location. If the car is out of sight or earshot, the Vehicle Finder function can locate it within a radius of up to 1,500 metres.

BMW will be releasing the app later this year and will also include real-time traffic information.

BMW 1-Series 3-Door Hatch Exposed

Thanks to Chinese portal site sohu.com, the images above and below of the new BMW 1-Series as a 3-door hatchback, has been exposed with patent/trademark designs. With the knowledge of a BMW 1-Series 5-door hatchback on the way, the images provide a good idea of what to expect next from BMW.
Looking elongated, the B-pillar is pulled back and angled towards the rear and the effect is enhanced even more by the arcing of the roof combined with arcing side glass.