Nissan R-TX Concept

One of the concept studies that caught our attention at the 2009 Degree Show at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea, UK, was the Nissan R-TX that was penned by design student, Matt Jones. While the sports car's styling is heavily influenced by the Nissan GT-R, what makes this concept proposal pretty interesting is its modular construction.

Rolls Royce 200EX concept

Rolls will be showing this 200EX concept car at Geneva but it’s pretty much a production car.

It’s a Rolls for the masses – or the masses that have around £170k to spend. Still, it’s cheaper than the Phantom. Shorter and smaller, too.

The four-door 200EX uses many components from the new BMW 7-Series including its front and rear crash structures and unlike the Phantom it will be made of steel instead of aluminium.

Power comes from a V12 engine. The most interesting feature is the rear hinged doors, as used on the Phantom.

Welcome Edition of the BMW M3

BMW is launching a special version of its M3 coupe called the Edition. A bit of a poncy name but the car itself sounds interesting.

The M3's suspension has been lowered by 10mm to make it handle even better and inside there's bespoke trim, the design of which depends upon the colour you choose for the outside - for example, if you buy the car in Dakar yellow you get yellow stitching on the seats and armrests.

The M3 Coupe Edition costs £53,435 and is available to order now.

BMW is launching a couple of special Minis

Remember all those special edition old Minis? The Mayfair, the Piccadilly etc? Well, they're back.

BMW is launching a couple of special Minis called the Mayfair (again) and Camden.

Not surprisingly, the Mayfair is the posher of the two and like the Camden (above) it comes in Cooper, Cooper S and Cooper D forms. Prices start at £18,165.

Dream machine: Ferrari California

For petrol heads the world over, 2009 promises to bring a whole host of spine-tingling super cars to a road near you. Top of the list is the Ferrari California.

September 2008 saw the launch of the much anticipated, Ferrari California. The rumour mill, of course, had started churning a couple of years ago as to what guise the 2008 car would take. To begin with it seemed Ferrari was planning a new base model sports car, ala the Dino of the 60’s and 70’s. Instead they opted for an entirely new route – a fusion of the best parts of its super cars and its grand tourers. At a price of £143,000, it is clearly not the base model. This price also brings it into a rather crowded market with competitors ranging from the Bentley Continental GTCs to the high end Mercs.

But we all know what fierce competitors the Italians can be. Despite it being designed for wider audience than most Ferraris, deep down it still prances with the same ferocity as its siblings. The 454 bhp V8 proves that.

It tops out at 193mph, the first 62 being ticked off in less than four seconds. It also boasts a few new technologies. The most obvious being the folding hardtop roof and arguably the most important being the twin clutch transmission designed to curb the hair raising feel of its F430 cousin and, coupled with the optional magnetic damper system, offers a more serene driving experience.

2011 Bentley Mulsanne: Bentley's Next Flagship Revealed

The poor, aging Bentley Arnage. Just a paltry 6.8-liter V8, making just 500 horsepower. Out-of-date Birdseye Maple interior trim. The two picnic tables are still a nice touch, but otherwise, it all looks rather dated now, doesn’t it? It’s a bargain at just under $250,000 – at least next to similar sedans from Maybach and Rolls Royce. But you would be embarrassed to roll up in one, now, wouldn’t you?

Apparently, the folks at Bentley would. They plan to replace their flagship with an entirely new sedan for 2011. The Bentley Mulsanne made its world debut this weekend at the 59th Annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and the Automotive press is…well…as impressed as they usually are when a new quarter-million-dollar ultra-luxury sedan first appears.

Motor Trend says the Mulsanne’s “elegant exterior design looks deceptively simple. A strong, sharply creased bone line defines the car’s profile, emphasizing the prominent hips over the rear wheels. The Mulsanne’s bodysides are clean and simple below that line; above it, however, are complexly rendered surfaces that give the car an emotional presence Rolls-Royce’s new Ghost sedan doesn’t have.” The huge car “looks like it’s been milled from a solid billet of metal,” they add, “as there are no visible body seams.”

Autoblog is particularly impressed with the headlights. Designers drew inspiration from Bentleys of the 1930s, placing a large set of round lights on either side of the grille, with a somewhat smaller set just outboard and below. “The central headlight element is ringed by daytime-running-light LEDs – when you see the car coming at you, it'll be unmistakable,” Autoblog says.

Bentley hasn’t let the press inside the car yet, but the automotive press has a sense of the cabin from a quick look through the window. Autoblog reports, “Gone are the mid-century ergonomics and design of the Arnage, replaced by a cabin that showcases chrome-accented dials and modern switchgear -- like a joystick controller for the screen – among a forest of wood.”

Little is known about the car’s powertrain. Jalopnik notes, “It's been rumored it could feature a VW TDI engine. If it doesn't get the TDI we expect it has yet another version of the family W12,” possibly a re-tuned version of the powerplant found on the top-of-the-line Audi A8. It puts out 450 horsepower in the Audi, but Bentley engineers might be able to squeeze more power from the mill.

2010 Bentley Mulsanne

2010 Mazda3

The automaker from Hiroshima dropped a bomb on the automotive market when they came up with the new Mazda3, styled heavily with Nagare inspired lines and bulges this was truly an economy car that you would aspire to own. The exterior of the Mazda3 is interesting to say the least, made up of a multitude of complex curves and detailed lines evidence that the Japanese design team put a good amount of their own blood, sweat and tears into the economy car car’s design. Starting at just under $16,000 for a sedan and closer to $20,000 for the hatchback, the Mazda3 packs a whole lot of car into an affordable package. If you upgrade the sadden to the touring model, not only do you get wave mesh grills, Bi-Xenon headlamps and sporty front and rear bumpers complete with a lip spoiler, but you also get the wonderful 2.5 Liter four cylinder that makes 167 HP and 168 lb-ft of torque to go along with your beautifully sculpted people mover.

2010 Bentley Arnage

Autocar reports that the Bentley Arnage will be replaced with a new model for the 2010 model year. Amid speculation that the Veyron-engined Arnage built recently and described by Bentley as a “prototype” is an indication of the next-generation Arnage’s powerplant – almost 1000 hp – the word is that the 2010 Arnage will have an aluminum spaceframe chassis produced by Audi, an aluminum body, and possibly a hybrid version of the current 6.75 liter V-8 using the transmission developed for the Audi Q7 hybrid or the hybrid transmission currently under development for the next Audi Quattro.

Autocar cites Audi’s chief of engineering, Michael Dick, as a source for the spaceframe information. Dick has recently said that Audi’s spaceframe would be the basis for all new Bentleys, saving about 330 lbs. in weight. Bentley has also disclosed that it will display a concept model which emphasizes “green” thinking at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. It is also expected that there may be major modifications made to the Bentley factory, both to accommodate the next Arnage and to accommodate production of other future Bentley models which will be based on the same spaceframe.

Clubsport Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

You looked at MKB's tuning package for the Mercedes C63 AMG, but the vintage '90's wheels were... how shall we say... less than intriguing. You looked at the Brabus Bullit Black Arrow, but dropping a V12 into your new C-Class and crossing the half-a-million dollar mark is slightly out of reach. Not to worry ladies and gentlemen, because your Mercedes C63 AMG tuning options aren't even close to being exhausted. The latest company to toss their hat into the ever-growing ring of C63 tuners is Väth, unveiling an entrant they're calling the V63RS Clubsport.

Although it does little the improve upon the already stellar looks of the standard C63 AMG, in the area of power, horses are plentiful. There's 585, in fact. As for our friend Newton, there's plenty of him as well, with 690 Nm of torque all awaiting your eager right foot. Together, they'll propel you to a top speed of some 202 mph, while a limited slip differential with a 60 percent locking rate ensures optimum power transfer to the road.

























To increase handling, a new sport suspension system has been incorporated into the V63RS, as has a high performance brake system and new 19-inch wheels. Inside, occupants will be treated to new sport seats, along with a new speedo, TV/DVD unit, and whatever else your heart desires.

Mercedes' C63 AMG Review

The sound of a car can tell a lot.Almost like a picture, an exhaust note can say 1,000 words. For instance, when you hear an Aston Martin or Ferrari V12, singing their siren-like harmonies, it is clear they are trying to lure you in to seduce you. Then there are brutes.

Sounding more like a chainsaw on steroids or a boater’s dream, there are not too many cars that classify in this realm. And, rightfully so. Usually these cars have monstrous V8s bulging out of engine bay and enough torque to warrant a visit to the emergency room, simply to remove the silly smile off your face. That is the brilliant thing about performance cars, they are edgy and downright in your face; a proper sports car does not apologize for its behavior. Neither does the subject of this review.

With its blatant overindulgence in guttural, V8 burbles and unique whip cracking finale, the C63 AMG has one of the most radical stock exhaust notes I have heard.

It is as though the 63 met the innocent C-class, took it on a bender and de-flowered it. The brilliant noise provides this C-class with serious character. Previous experience in Mercedes-Benz’s products left me yearning for more as they came off as uninspired and isolated automobiles – the 63 could not be more disparate....

Ferrari 458 Italia spotted in the flesh

A lightly-camo'ed Ferrari 458 Italia has been caught napping by the roadside, and from the looks of it, Ferrari doesn't appear to have pulled any tricks with its renderings: the car's a dead ringer for what was presented last week, right down to the seriously extended mirror stalks and that disappearing back end. This is all very good, and we can't wait to see the 458 Italia up close in Frankfurt. Hat tip to Milad.

2010 Shelby GT500 lives up to 540 horsepower rating

2010 Shelby GT500 - Click above for a high-res image gallery

We already know the 2010 Shelby GT500 is incredibly quick. In our initial performance test of the car, we ripped off a 12.9 second pass despite our lack of drag racing experience, a slippery track and a stiff headwind. With an experienced driver and prime conditions we have no doubt that Shelby's latest muscle car can break into the 11's. At the time, we thought to ourselves that the car's 540 horsepower number was probably underrated, and it turns out we were spot on.

While we haven't had the chance (yet) to strap a new GT500 to a dyno, 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords jumped at the chance as soon as they had one in their possession. The results didn't surprise us: 478.53 horsepower and 470.43 lb-ft torque at the rear wheels on a hot and muggy day in Florida. Much can be argued about exactly how much power is transferred from the flywheel to the back rubber, but the traditional calculation of a 15% loss puts the GT500 at over 560 bhp. Interestingly, it's still quite a bit less than the Shelby GT500KR that 5.0 tested last year despite the same official power rating. Even so, we're happy that Ford is now underrating their pony cars and preventing power-rating debacles like the one the SVT Cobra created back in 1999.

2009 GeigerCars Hummer H2 Kompressor

The market for American cars has fallen into a sort of lethargy since the insolvency of Chrysler and General Motors. Vehicles like the new Cadillac CTS-V or the new Camaro only find their way over the big pond on the initiative of specialized dealers. But despite the crisis and the uncertain future of the American automobile industry, the fan base has not shrunk at all, in contrary the US car scene is as lively as ever.

Karl Geiger, the founder of GeigerCars.de in Munich, has been importing, tuning and customizing American vehicles for more than 30 years. Thanks to a perfect network, the newest models are always available as the first in Europe on the large site in Truderinger Strasse, despite the stuttering US market.

One major enthusiasm of the Bavarian is and remains customizing, and once again Karl Geiger has achieved a masterpiece with this Hummer H2 conversion. The paintwork answers to the name "Latte Macciatto" and is a mix of a noble brown as the base color with many contrast elements in crème-beige. The combination of wheels and tires is exclusive, with 315/30R30 tires on gigantic 30-inch chrome wheels. Behind the almost full wheel rims are Brembo brakes with 380 X 34 mm riveted brake discs and 4-piston calipers at the front, and 380 X 32 mm discs with 2-piston calipers at the back. The chassis receives additional stabilizers, rear axle struts and adjustable sports shock absorbers, including lowering, which is certainly a good idea in view of the extremely high performance of the Geiger Hummer H2.

As is traditional, Geiger has fitted the Hummer motor with a supercharger, which increases the power to a full 547 PS at 5900 rpm and the maximum torque to a brutal 763 Nm at 4500 rpm. So the US giant covers the classical sprint from 0 to 100 kmh in slightly less than 7 seconds, and the forward urge is only gently held back by the air resistance at 228 kmh. In order that the outside world notices the H2 not only visually but also aurally, a special in-house stainless steel sport exhaust system gives out a real thunder.

The inside is pure luxury, because Karl Geiger lines every square centimeter with the finest leather in brown and crème beige. Dashboard, steering wheel, central console and door panels, all glisten in the same color combination as the outside paintwork, which makes the "Latte Macciatto" Hummer absolutely unique. Also remarkable is the fact that Geiger has refinished altogether 400 small parts in the interior with piano lacquer. The A, B and C columns and the underside of the roof have also been lined with finely structured Alcantara. A pioneer sound system including SatNav supplies the passengers with perfect sound and all important information, while a roof-mounted monitor in the back is ideally suited for playing DVDs.

Technical facts

Vehicle type: Hummer H2
Motor: supercharger conversion
Power: 547 POS (402 kW) at 5900 rpm
Max. torque: 763 Nm at 4500 rpm
Acceleration: 0-100 kmh: 6.9 sec.
Top speed: 228 kmh
Brakes: front and back, 2-part riveted brake discs 380 X 32 mm,
front with 6-piston calipers, rear with 4-piston calipers
Wheels/tires: Geiger aluminum wheel, 9.5 X 30 all round with 315/30R30
Chassis: strengthened stabilizers and rear axle struts, lowered
Interior equipment: 2-tone special leather lining, Pioneer sound system incl. navigation, Roof-mounted monitor incl. DVD player, reversing camera in the rear-view mirror
Special features: special paintwork in latte design, Geiger stainless steel sports exhaust system

2009 Mitsubishi Outlander Price UK

Mitsubishi Motors are pleased to announce the arrival of two new variants to their versatile Outlander range; the Outlander 2.0 DI-D SE and GSE, keeping in line with Mitsubishi Motors UK’s benchmark of high level standard specification at aggressive pricing.

Developed with the active family in mind Mitsubishi Motors’ Outlander has distinctive styling and combines estate car versatility, safety orientated all-wheel drive stability and athletic off road dynamics with class leading green credentials.

The Mitsubishi Outlander SE is outstanding value for money with a comprehensive list of specification including; 18” alloys, Bluetooth, cruise control, privacy glass, side & curtain airbags and a third row of seats, to name but a few, for just £19,999. For those who want a little bit more luxury the GSE has all of the above, with the addition of leather seats and a rear ceiling mounted DVD player, for a small additional cost of £1,500.

As with the current Outlander range the Outlander 2.0 DI-D SE and GSE qualify for service intervals of 12,500miles/12 months, 3-year unlimited mileage warranty, 3-year pan European breakdown and recovery service, and 12-year anti-corrosion perforation warranty. Mitsubishi Motors offer their own Mitsubishi Service Plan (MSP) which covers the first 3 years/37,500miles servicing for just £295.

As with the full Mitsubishi Motors range, both cars come with a full range of competitive finance offers available. There is something to suit every pocket from 50% deposit with 0% APR over 12 months to 10% deposit at 7.9% APR over 60 months.

How To Disable A Cash For Clunkers Car

Engine Disablement Procedures for the CARS Program
THIS PROCEDURE IS NOT TO BE USED BY THE VEHICLE OWNER

Perform the following procedure to disable the vehicle engine.

1. Obtain solution of 40% sodium silicate/60% water. (The Sodium Silicate
(SiO2/Na2O) must have a weight ratio of 3.0 or greater.)
2. Drain engine oil for environmentally appropriate disposal.
3. Install the oil drain plug.
4. Since the procedure is intended to render the engine inoperative, drive or move the
vehicle to the desired area for disablement.
5. Pour enough solution in the engine through the oil fill for the oil pump to circulate
the solution throughout the engine. Start by adding 2 quarts of the solution, which
should be sufficient in most cases.
CAUTION: Wear goggles and gloves. Appropriate protective clothing should be
worn to prevent silicate solution from coming into contact with the skin.
6. Replace the oil fill cap.
7. Start the engine.
8. Run engine at approximately 2000 rpm (for safety reasons do not operate at high
rpm) until the engine stops. (Typically the engine will operate for 3 to 7 minutes. As
the solution starts to affect engine operation, the operator will have to apply more
throttle to keep the engine at 2000 rpm.)
9. Allow the engine to cool for at least 1 hour.
10. With the battery at full charge or with auxiliary power to provide the power of a fully
charged battery, attempt to start the engine.
11. If the engine will not operate at idle, the procedure is complete.
12. If the engine will operate at idle, repeat steps 7 through 11 until the engine will no
longer idle.
13. Attach a label to the engine that legibly states the following:

This engine is from a vehicle that is part of the Car Allowance Rebate System
(CARS). It has significant internal damage caused by operating the
engine with a sodium silicate solution (liquid glass) instead of oil.

2011 Tesla Model S 1000 Reservations Review

Tesla Motors surpassed 1,000 reservations for the Model S, an all-electric family sedan that carries up to seven people and travels up to 300 miles per charge.

Tesla launched the car March 26, and reservations immediately began streaming in online and at showrooms in California. The anticipated base price of the Model S is $49,900 after a federal tax credit. The $5,000 reservation fee is refundable..
But sticker price is only one part of a cars total cost of ownership. If you account for the much lower cost of electricity vs. gasoline at a likely future cost of more than $5 per gallon, the Model S is equivalent to a gasoline car with a sticker price of about $30,000, such as a Ford Taurus, Honda Accord or even a Toyota Avalon or BMW 3-Series. Those savings are realized immediately if you lease a Model S, so there is no need wait years to earn back the price difference.

œThe Model S is a better value than much cheaper conventional cars, said Tesla CEO, Chairman and Product Architect Elon Musk. œDespite the enormous environmental benefits, lower total cost of ownership will soon become the primary motivation for consumers to evolve from gas guzzlers to EVs.

Tesla is the only production automaker selling highway-capable EVs in North America or Europe. With 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds, the Roadster outperforms almost all sports cars in its class, yet is more than twice as energy efficient as a Toyota Prius and delivers 244 miles per charge " the only car that offers performance with a clean conscience.

Tesla has delivered more than 400 Roadsters to customers so far. The base price of the Roadster is $101,500 after a $7,500 federal tax credit.

The Roadster has a far lower cost of ownership than comparably priced sports cars -- even after factoring in a battery pack replacement. The lower cost of electricity vs. gasoline, the relative lack of maintenance on an EV, and state and federal tax incentives may result in lifetime savings of at least $26,000 compared with a similarly priced gasoline sports car. The Roadster also liberates owners from detours to the gas station and inconvenient trips to the mechanic for routine oil changes, exhaust system repairs and other internal combustion engine maintenance.

œSome Roadster customers are sports car enthusiasts. Some are environmentalists. Some care about energy security. All are discriminating and value conscious consumers, Musk said. œNow were seeing the same attributes in customers who opt for the Model S. People who drive Teslas refuse to compromise on value, performance or efficiency.

San Carlos, California-based Tesla Motors designs and manufactures electric vehicles with exceptional design, performance and efficiency, while conforming to all North American and European safety, environmental and durability standards. The Roadster, which has a 0-to-60 mph acceleration of 3.9 seconds, is the only highway-capable production EV for sale in North America and Europe. Tesla expects to begin producing the Model S sedan in late 2011.