Aston Martin DBS Coupe
2011 Aston Martin DBS Coupe is powered by a 6.0-liter V12 that produces 510 hp and 420 pound-feet of torque. Aston Martin DBS coupe estimates will accelerate from zero to 100 km / h (62 mph) in 4.3 seconds.

Interiors 2011 Aston Martin DBS Coupe is one of the best examples of British art. Thin carbon fiber trim and elegant lines of the port areas of cut aluminum wheels and an optional piano black trim (a must-have) adorn the center console.

2011 Aston Martin DBS Coupe should be quite a few safety equipment for an exotic sports car. Stability and traction control and ABS brakes are standard carbon-ceramic disc. Side airbags front and rear fog lights are standard.

The special edition Carbon Black trim features lightweight carbon fiber and Kevlar sport seats with black leather trim and silver stitching, piano black trim, gloss black alloy wbeels, six-speed auto transmission, anodised black tread plates and a bespoke Carbon Black metallic paint.

Sporting a 510-horsepower V-12, massive wheels and a low-slung hood, the DBS competes with supercars like the Ferrari 599 GTB and Maserati GranTurismo. The rear-wheel-drive DBS crowns Aston Martin's three-car lineup and is available as a coupe or convertible. It shares its platform with the similarly styled DB9 and less expensive V8 Vantage, both of which have convertible variants.

New for 2011
There are no significant changes for 2011.

Exterior
Those who have seen a mid-'90s DB7 or anything newer should recognize the DBS as an Aston. Its trapezoidal grille and low-slung hood mimic the V8 Vantage and DB9; the front air dam is larger, the bumper has a few more etchings, and the rear sports an aggressive underbody air diffuser. Exterior features include:
• Constructed from lightweight aluminum, magnesium and carbon fiber
• Aluminum chassis
• Xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights
• LED taillamps
• 20-inch wheels standard
• Available lightweight 20-inch wheels
• Power retractable fabric roof (convertible)
Interior
The two-seat interior looks much like that of the DB9. The center stack starts with the air-conditioning vents up top and flows down to the center armrest. A small cargo area behind the seats can hold a custom luggage set. The rear cargo area can be replaced with additional seats to increase seating capacity to four. This configuration comes standard on the convertible. Interior features include:
• Leather-upholstered dashboard, armrest, steering wheel and seats
• Choice of ultrathin racing seats or chunkier, but still heavily bolstered, sport seats
• Available navigation system
• Available Bang & Olufsen stereo
Under the Hood
The engine sits in front of the driver and passenger but is pushed back toward the center of the car. The automatic transmission is similar to the unit used in the DB9, but with beefed-up internal parts to handle the extra power. Mechanical features include:
• 510 hp and 420 pounds-feet of torque
• Mid-mounted 6.0-liter V-12
• Zero to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds
• Standard six-speed manual transmission
• Available six-speed automatic with paddle shifter
• Adaptive suspension adjusts dampers to changing road conditions
Safety:
• Antilock brakes
• Traction control
• Electronic stability system


Thanks to these leaked photos, we won’t have to wait for the high-end Top Marques Monaco show in mid-April to get our first taste of the new Spada Codatronca Monza. Loosely based on the Spada Codatronca TS coupe that was revealed at the same show in 2008, the Monza is a hardcore speedster model aimed primarily for weekend track racers with a very fat bank account.

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The word on the street is that Kia will lift the covers off a sedan version of its new Rio series in a world premiere at the upcoming 2011 New York International Auto Show in mid-April. The new generation of the Rio was recently unveiled in hatchback form at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show earlier this month.

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The shortage of parts and electricity problems in Japan in the aftermath of the Tohoku earthquake may delay the production of at least 500,000 Toyota vehicles, according to market research company Advanced Research Japan.

The world's largest carmaker may subsequently see its operating profit drop by at least 100 billion yen ($1.2 billion) in the 2010 fiscal year (ending March 31 2011) and up to 200 billion yen in the 2011 fiscal year. Auto analyst Koji Endo says any impact on production destined for export will affect earnings even more. “Hardly any cars will be built in April and a very low level of production will continue from May,” Endo was quoted as saying by Bloomberg.

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Audi is joining a long line of car manufacturers that have reached out to bicycle specialists to create their own range of two wheelers. Being that the brand with the four rings is renowned for the use of aluminum in its cars, you’d expect Audi to employ the lightweight metal on its bicycle series. But that’s not the case as the Ingolstadt automaker teamed up with Renovo Design, a firm famous for its wooden frame bikes. Read more »


Americans love their cars. Whether it’s a humble family wagon, a muscle car, a luxury sedan or even a minivan: there’s nothing Americans like better than the automobile. What’s that, you say? What about women car owners?

Unsurprisingly for a species with just two genders, half the world’s population is female. And as everyone these days has to own at least one car, automakers obviously spend a lot of money catering specifically to that section of the market.

In a new study by automotive industry analyst R. L. Polk, it was found that some 38.5% of the last four year’s light vehicle registrations were made by – you guessed it – women. In “not-white” households, it’s more like 40 to 45%. It might not seem like much,

So what are the nation’s womenfolk buying? Would you be surprised to learn that nearly half of all MINI sales (47.9%) went to the fairer sex? Okay, so that’s not too surprising, but how are top five market leaders doing? Well, scroll down to see for yourself:

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Audi's Ingolstadt plant produced on Wednesday the five-millionth A4 model, an Avant station wagon painted in Misano Red. The brand with the four rings started production of the A4 in Ingolstadt in 1994 and since 2007, it has also been building it at Neckarsulm. The A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, A4 allroad quattro, S4 Sedan and S4 Avant are manufactured in Ingolstadt, while the A4 Sedan is built in Neckarsulm in both plants. The A4 range takes up a high proportion of the Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm plants' production capacity. Read more »

 Subaru Legacy
The 2011 Subaru Legacy is available in 3 different engine choices. The 2.5 liter four cylinder offers 170 horsepower with 170 foot pounds of torque. All Legacy models, regardless of engine size, feature all wheel drive to make handling smoother. A 6 speed manual or automatic transmission is available, which allows drivers to pick their preference of driving experience.
You will find most safety features standard regardless of package options, which really says something for Subaru. The 2011 Subaru Legacy offers only one optional safety feature and that is the parking assist.

The Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and Mazda6 all offer very similar safety features, options, and performance. The Camry’s base model offers 169 horsepower, while the Accord and Mazda6 offer 180 and 170 respectively.

Choices abound with the Legacy, which comes in many trim levels and offers three engine types and three transmissions.

The 2.5 GT Premium model is gone, leaving the 2.5 GT Limited as the lone turbocharged model. Exterior features include:
Standard 16-inch wheels
Available 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels
Functional hood scoop on 2.5 GT
Projector beam headlights
Interior features include:
Standard keyless entry
Standard 60/40-split folding rear seats
Available Bluetooth audio streaming capability
Available dual-zone climate control

Under the Hood
Three engines — a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a turbocharged 2.5-liter and a 3.6-liter six-cylinder — make 170 horsepower, 265 hp and 256 hp, respectively.
170-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder
265-hp, turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder
256-hp, 3.6-liter six-cylinder
Six-speed manual transmission
Five-speed automatic (3.6-liter six-cylinder)
Standard all-wheel drive

Reviews of the 2011 Subaru Legacy are generally mixed. Like all Subarus, the Legacy has standard all-wheel-drive, a unique feature that helps provide added safety and security. In 2.5i Legacy models, reviewers note slow acceleration, though the more powerful 2.5GT or 3.6R models solve this problem.

Consumers checking out the 2011 Subaru Legacy should be sure to check out other affordable midsize cars with all-wheel-drive options. The Suzuki Kizashi is also available with an all-wheel drive option.

For 2011 the Legacy 2.5GT is only available in Limited trim. New for 2011, the Legacy comes standard with folding rear-view mirrors.


Usually, it’s Nissan owners that want to upgrade to a model from sister company Infiniti, but in this case, it’s the other way around. Found for sale in Quebec by Carscoop reader Caroline is this Nissan GT-R wannabe based on the Infiniti G35 Coupe. From what we can tell, the owner’s budget dried out after he or she finished the front end that now resembled the R35 with a bespoke grille and front bumper assembly. Read more »


What is the best way to promote a commercial van? Well, you can follow the classic way by showing off its qualities and advantages over the competition, but that lacks originality. On the other hand, a van that writes its own letters of application and sends them to 121 potential employers (i.e. big buyers of commercial vehicles) sounds a lot more creative.

And that’s exactly what a German marketing campaign for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is all about. Check it out in the video below, but don't try to do that to your Sprinter, it might lose its grip -literally...

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Sure, the Opel Ampera is nothing more than a Chevrolet Volt with some extremely mild cosmetic changes, but doppelgangers have always had a very special place in the wonderful world of General Motors. If Bloomberg’s inside sources are right, GM is currently looking into the development of a Buick-badged version of the plug-in hybrid Opel Ampera. According to people familiar with the project, the Buick model could go on sale in 2013, if the plans goes ahead.

Given that the styling changes over the Chevrolet Volt would be limited to a Buick-specific grille and bumper designs, one of the most significant problems GM faces is how to justify the car and its higher price tag which would be in excess of the Volt’s base MSRP of US$41,000 not including a $7,500 federal tax credit.

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GM's Korean subsidiary lifted the wraps off the Mi-ray hybrid roadster
concept at the 2011 Seoul Motor Show today, as a tribute to Chevrolet's 100th anniversary this year. The aggressive-looking Mi-ray (which means “future” in Korean) was developed by the GM Advanced Design Studio in Seoul and pays homage to the bow-tie brand's sports car heritage.

The roadster uses styling cues from Chevy's 1963 Monza SS and the 1962 Corvair Super Spyder, but also from aircrafts, with its aerodynamic fuselage being reminiscent of modern jet fighters. Elements like the scissor-doors, the pronounced wheel-arches and the sharp front bumper add further drama to the Mi-ray's appearance.

The car's bodywork is made of lightweight materials such as carbon fiber and carbon fiber reinforced plastics, while the turbine-shaped wheels (20-inch front/21-inch rear) are made of aluminum-carbon fiber composite.

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Seeing that Volvo will be holding on to the XC90, which has been in production since 2002,
for a few more years, tuning firm Heico Sportiv decided to update its styling offerings for the crossover model.

The newly developed bodykit is made from PUR-R-RIM plastic and consists of six parts. These include new front apron that replaces the series-produced central and side panels and has a stainless steel stay located in front of the cooling air outlet, side skirts that are mounted on top of the original parts and a new rear apron that accommodates the four-pipe sports exhaust system with oval chrome end tips.

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Making its world premiere today at the at the Seoul Motor Show, is Kia’s Naimo electric crossover utility vehicle (CUV), a B-segment sized concept car that will serve as a test-bed for the company's EV technology. Penned by Kia's international design team in Seoul, the car takes its name from the Korean word “Ne-mo”, which is pronounced ‘Neh-mo’ and means ‘square shape.

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There’s so much you can do to improve a supercar like the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, but tuning specialist Anderson Germany believes it has some goods to offer with its new program for the Italian model.

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The 2011 Seoul Motor Show that runs in South Korea from March 31 to April 10 plays host to the world premiere of the all-new Hyundai Blue2 concept study. The name ‘Blue2’, which is read ‘Blue square’, is a combination of Hyundai’s sub eco-brand ‘Blue Drive’ and the number `2’ from H2, the symbol for hydrogen gas.

Codenamed HND-6, the prototype is Hyundai’s first sedan-style Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV). The four-door saloon is powered by a fuel cell electric system that delivers a stack power of 90kW or 121HP and fuel economy of 34.9km/ℓ (of hydrogen, of course), which is equal to 82mpg US and 2.9lt/100km. The concept is also equipped with low-resistance tires and alloy wheels which are designed to improve aerodynamic performance.

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A new Buick concept model called the Envision will make its global debut at the Shanghai Auto Show on April 18. Jointly developed by Shanghai GM and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), the Envision is a crossover model designed for the Chinese market, although the company points out the vehicle incorporates Buick's "dynamic, fluid, quiet and comfortable" styling language.

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The 2011 Cadillac Escalade is not for shrinking violets. The Cadillac Escalade is a perennial car reviewer favorite among luxury large SUVs for its powerful V8, flamboyant styling and luxurious passenger cabin. "There are luxury SUVs and then there's the 2011 Cadillac Escalade. There are full-size SUVs and then there's the Escalade,” says Edmunds. The 2011 Cadillac Escalade features seating for up to eight in a roomy and luxurious cabin. Pricewise, the Escalade falls in the middle of its class. While cramped third rows are typical for the class, if you need a comfortable third row that can handle adults, check out the Lincoln Navigator.

The Escalade can seat up to eight people and comes in four models: the Escalade, Escalade ESV (an extended wheelbase version), the Escalade EXT (which trades the third row seat and enclosed cargo area for a short truck bed) and the Escalade Hybrid. We review the Escalade EXT and the Escalade Hybrid separately.

There are luxury SUVs and then there's the "2011 Cadillac Escalade". There are full-size SUVs and then there's the Escalade. An adjustable suspension that's standard on all but the base Escalade optimizes ride and handling. Truly, the Escalade lives up to its Cadillac badge.

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade is a full-size luxury SUV available in four trim levels: Base, Luxury, Premium and Platinum Edition. The base Escalade comes standard with 18-inch wheels, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, power-folding and driver-side auto-dimming exterior mirrors, a power liftgate, automatic xenon headlights, foglights and running boards. Other standard amenities include tri-zone automatic climate control, a power tilt-only steering wheel, power-adjustable pedals, and heated and ventilated 10-way power front seats with adjustable lumbar and driver memory functions. The Escalade Luxury adds chromed 22-inch cast-aluminum wheels, automatic headlight high-beams, a blind-spot warning system, a suspension with an active damping system (optional on the base model), a sunroof, power-folding and tumbling second-row seats and a heated steering wheel.

The Escalade Premium adds power-retractable running boards and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system with a single roof-mounted display (optional on Luxury). The Escalade Platinum Edition adds different chromed 22-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, upgraded leather upholstery, leather-trimmed dash and door tops with contrast stitching, heated and cooled cupholders, and a headrest-mounted dual-screen DVD entertainment system.

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 good for 403 hp and 417 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive is standard on the Escalade, but all-wheel drive is optional.

The Escalade features cylinder deactivation technology for improved fuel economy. Note that we said "improved" and not "good," as the big Escalade manages just 14 mpg city/18 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive and 13/18/15 with all-wheel drive.

Standard safety features on the Escalade include stability control, antilock disc brakes, traction control, front side-impact airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera and OnStar emergency telematics. In Edmunds brake testing, the 2011 Cadillac Escalade came to a stop from 60 mph in a disappointing 144 feet. In government crash testing, the Escalade received a perfect five stars for frontal crash protection.

Adding the available second-row bench raises total seating capacity to eight. Fold those second-row seats down and the cargo capacity grows to an impressive 108.9 cubic feet.

For years, Cadillac has led the luxury SUV class with its classy and sport Escalade. Over the last decade, the vehicle has been on the cutting edge in its class, setting trends for on-road performance and outpacing the competition with interior amenities.


This is the first official photo of the all-new Chevrolet Malibu show car that will debut simultaneously at the Shanghai Auto Show in China and the New York International Auto Show in mid-April. And if you’re wondering why GM made plans to show it in China, that’s because unlike the current model that’s offered only in North America, the new Malibu will be a global vehicle that will be sold in nearly 100 countries on six continents and built in multiple locations, including China and two facilities in the United States.

“This Malibu takes Chevrolet’s established and award-winning nameplate to new places and introduces it to new audiences around the world,” said Rick Scheidt, vice president of Chevrolet. “Whether the Malibu is sold in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, or Australia, it has been engineered from the ground up to meet the needs of customers around the world.”

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All-New Honda Accord Sedan and Honda Accord Coupe 2011 slide in mid-August 2010. Honda North America beautify the outward appearance and the Honda Accord. In addition, Honda also increase the fuel efficiency of Honda Accord.

Improvements include the vehicle aerodynamics, engine friction and gear transmission ratio, contribute to improving fuel efficiency. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), USA gave a rating of 1 to Accord Sedan 4-cylinder with automatic transmission. In the town of Accord Sedan 4-cylinder spend 9.87 km / liter better 0.85 km / liter. While on the freeway (highway) recorded 10.2 km / liter, preferably 1.28 km / liter.

Revision 2011 and Honda Accord Coupe exterior found on the grille, alloy wheels, rear deck lid, and wheels. Luxurious and ergonomic interior increases with the presence of leather upholstery, lumbar support, leather steering wheel, heated seats, for a particular type.

Accord is offered in a choice of 2 petrol engine, 4-cylinder, 2.4 liter, DOHC, i-VTEC, with power 190 hp and 177 hp, and V6, 3.5 liter, SOHC, i-VTEC, Variable Cylinder Management (VCM ), powerful 271 hp. Accord Sedan V6 petrol consumption in city / highway carrying 8.08 / 12.75 km / liter, preferably 0.43 km / liter on the highway. EPA rank 3 for the Accord V6 Sedan.

and Honda Accord Coupe EX-L V6 was seeing a 6-speed manual transmission. While the Accord 4-cylinder option offered a 5-speed manual transmission and 5-speed automatic.


Back in November of 2009, then 23yo Swedish industrial design student Marouane Bembli brought us an impressive design study for a proposed halo model for Audi to sit above the R8. With its sharp lines, centralized cockpit and Rolls-Royce Phantom rivalling proportions, the R10 was a pretty if unlikely proposal for a next generation Audi supercar.

Now, two years older and presumably a little wiser, Bembli has once again tackled the R10 in what I call the R10 v2.0. Though the concept of a low roofed, widebody coupe with a mid-mounted V10 remains the same, Bembli’s new-for-2011 R10 features a more aggressive front-end treatment, larger rear view mirrors and cabin windows and the addition of fighter jet-inspire side intakes.

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In 1975, BMW launched the 3-Series as a successor to the 02 series and essentially established the premium compact car segment. The company went on to produce five generation of the 3-Series selling more than 12 million cars worldwide. Even though it changed considerably from one generation to another, the 3-Series kept its core characteristics: a compact body with a classic design, rear-wheel drive, sporty handling characteristics and potent engines.

Launched initially as a two-door coupe, the 3-Series gained throughout the years new body variants such as the sedan, station wagon, coupe, convertible and even a three-door hatchback model (Compact). Scroll down to read a brief history on each generation.

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In a sign of the possible problems brewing up at Saab, the Swedish firm was forced to temporarily halt production for a few hours at its plant on Tuesday as well as on Wednesday after component makers cut off deliveries to the factory because they hadn’t been paid.

“Certain suppliers halted supplies to Saab Automobile pending discussions about payments and supply terms,” Spyker said in a statement on Wednesday. “Saab Automobile expects to resolve these issues in the short term, also to prevent any further disruptions in supply. Saab Automobile has sufficient means to meet its immediate liquidity needs from existing and available sources,” the company added.

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In one of the cleverest ads from the 1980s, Lexus stacked fifteen champagne glasses on the hood of its (then new) LS400 sedan...and then placed it on a dynamometer. Taking the LS400 up to a simulated 145 mph (233 km/h), the viewer marvels as the glasses remain exactly where they should be. The ad ends with the Lexus logo and the words, “The Lexus LS400 is designed to stir the soul...and not much else.”

It’s a great bit of advertising and holds up pretty well even today. There is one question that many would-be Lexus owners may be asking themselves today: are the cars still as good as they were back then? Has engineering perfection über alles survived twenty years of market reinvention and product development?

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Toyota, PSA/Peugeot-Citroen and BMW are the carmakers closest to reaching their CO2 targets next year, according to a report by market research firm JATO Dynamics. The targets are imposed by the European Union, whose objective for 2015 is to enforce a fleet average CO2 level of 130 g/km for manufacturers selling cars in Europe.

In order to reach that objective, CO2 targets are lowered progressively each year. In 2009 the average was 145.9 g/km and in 2010 it went down to 140.9 g/km. Emissions regulations will be imposed starting next year, with significant fines to be enforced to automakers that will not comply with the new emissions limits.

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A little less than a year ago, famed Italian coachbuilder Zagato celebrated Alfa Romeo’s centenary with the reveal of the TZ3 Corsa at the Villa D'Este Concours. Based on the hardware of the Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione, the TZ3 Corsa paid homage to its TZ predecessors. It was built as a one-off for a wealthy German collector named Martin Kapp.

In December of the same year, Zagato sent out a holiday card featuring the older TZ1 and TZ2 alongside the latest TZ3 and one more unnamed fourth model wrapped in a bow, hinting at a new TZ4. Fast forward to today, and German car magazine Autobild is reporting that the Italian coachbuilder is indeed planning a fourth TZ model, which could carry the TZ4 Stradale nameplate.

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Kimi Raikkonen surprised the motorsport world this week by announcing he will switch to NASCAR this year. The 2007 Formula 1 champion will start
racing with a new team called ICE1 in the Truck series and will later move to the Nationwide and Sprint Cup series. Most likely, the team will be supported by Raikkonen himself, whose current WRC team is called ICE1 as well and is backed by the driver and sponsors from Finland.

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The Mercedes-Benz CL500 [C216] coupe is the latest car to drop into the hands of German tuning firm VÄTH. The company starts by squeezing more power out of the 5.5-liter V8 engine through the use of sport camshafts, custom stainless steel sport catalysts and air filters. Output is lifted from 388HP to 460HP and 600Nm, while VÄTH also removes the speed limiter allowing the modified CL500 to reach a top speed of 290km/h or 180mph. Read more »

2011 Chevrolet Express
The 2011 Chevrolet Express is a full-sized passenger or cargo van that offers unique features in a highly functional vehicle. The 2011 Chevy Express is the first full-size van to offer either All Wheel Drive or the feature-packed OnStar system. New for 2011, Chevrolet will offer Express models that will be fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPN) for fleet and commercial customers.

If you’ve driven a previous year’s model, you’ll know exactly what to expect with the 2011 Chevrolet Express.

The standard interior of the 2011 Chevrolet Express is comfortable enough, but is designed for functionality. For upgraded features, many people customize the vans and turn them into recreational vehicles.

From the side-impact beams to the driver and passenger-side air bags, the 2011 Chevrolet Express is packed with safety features. For additional roll-over protection, the Express also features a front anti-roll bar.

US News and World Reports ranked the 2010 Chevrolet Express van second out of four vans after analyzing multiple reviews and test drive reports.
All three models are approximately the same size as the Chevrolet Express and will carry the same number passengers.

A rolling testament to the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" school of vehicle design, the Express offers a passenger van's timeless features of powerful engines and space, space and&space. Over the years, the Chevrolet Express has enjoyed a healthy share of the full-size passenger van segment. Current Chevrolet Express Passenger Van
The Chevrolet Express is available in 1500, 2500 and 3500 versions. Standard on all are stability control and side curtain airbags.

The 1500 series comes with a 5.3-liter V8 making 310 horsepower, backed by a four-speed automatic transmission and standard rear-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive. The rear-drive-only 2500 gets a standard 4.8-liter V8 with 280 hp or an optional 6.0-liter V8 generating 323 hp. The 6.0-liter V8 is standard on rear-drive-only 3500 series models.

Proving as a staple for recreational vehicle conversions, utility vehicles, business delivery vans, and airport shuttles since the 1970s, the Chevrolet Express is a classic permutation of the standard, rear-wheel-driven, front-located-engine, boxlike, body-on-frame van. The Express competes with Freightliner Sprinters and Ford Transit Connects.
Extended wheelbase configurations have a wheelbase of 155 inches.


Undeniably, the XF is one of the most important models in Jaguar’s recent history, as it turned a new design page for the British carmaker at a time the company changed ownership, from Ford to India’s Tata Motors. Now, three years after its market launch in 2008 following a debut at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, Jaguar is preparing a facelift version of the XF that will receive its world premiere at next month’s New York Auto Show.

The facelift model will receive a makeover that includes a new front fascia with new lights, a redesigned front grille and reshaped bumper, which oddly enough, bring it closer to the original C-XF Concept that previewed the car. The XF will also benefit from tweaks to the interior and the overall quality, the introduction of new tech systems and an upgraded suspension for improved ride and handling.

Perhaps the biggest news for buyers across the pond is the introduction of a new 2.2-liter four-cylinder turbo diesel engine. The oil-burner is a development of the Ford unit found in the Land Rover Freelander and the European-market Ford Mondeo, however, given that the XF is rear wheel drive, it sits in a north-south configuration so Jaguar had to make several changes to the engine.

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Porsche officially lifted the veils off the most powerful and fastest version of the Panamera to date, the new Turbo S. The latest addition to the sports saloon’s range features an uprated version of the standard Turbo model’s 4.8-liter force-fed V8 engine with improved turbochargers boasting titanium-aluminium turbine wheels and modified engine control management.

These changes boost output by 50HP to 550HP and peak torque from 700 to 750 Nm (553 lb-ft), while in the “Sport” and “Sport Plus” mode of the standard Sport Chrono Package Turbo (as well as during kick-down in normal mode) the eight cylinder engine delivers 800Nm (590 lb-ft) courtesy of the over-boost function.

When using the Launch Control function, the Panamera Turbo S completes the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.8 seconds [0-60mph in 3.6 seconds], and can reach a top speed of 191 mph (307km/h). In comparison, the standard Panamera Turbo needs 4.2 seconds and can go up to 303km/h (188mph).

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2011 VW Jetta Recall
VW North America announced a recall for repairs (recall) of the VW Jetta 2011 with a total production of 71,043 units. The model is a sixth-generation Jetta sedan manufactured from March 2010 to March 2011.

The problem is, the producers wanted to rearrange the cabling system associated with an alarm and horn. Indeed, until the news was announced, there were no casualties or who had an accident and the owner will be notified by mail.

In this case, means the Jetta has been exposed several times to the recall. Ever experienced in 2009 with Eos. Then, in late 2010 that reached 300,000 units, in addition to Jetta when it was also a Golf, Rabbit, New Bettle, and the Jetta Sportwagon.

2011 Jetta sold in America today consists of four variants. Of the four variants that include injection turbodiesel engine (TDI) 2.0-liter with 140 HP power, 2.0 liter (115HP), 2.5-liter (170 HP), and a 2011 2.0 liter TSI (200 HP) .


The original Chrysler 300 is perhaps one of the most popular cars in the tuning industry here in the States, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that the Detroit automaker is using the car’s successor to tap into the custom scene.

The very first customized 2011MY Chrysler 300 is called the Fatchance 2.0 and it made its debut alongside the firm’s “S” concept cars at this past weekend’s Annual Spring Festival of LXs in California (see here). The low-rider 300 was crafted by John Fortuno aka Fatchance, who apparently caught the attention of Chrysler with his first generation 300-based FatChance 1.0.

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After commissioning a one-off Enzo-based Ferrari P4/5 from Pininfarina, American millionaire James Glickenhaus wanted a similar car for racing, and that’s how the P4/5 Competizione was born. Similar in shape to the road-going Pininfarina model but different mechanically, the racing version shares many components with the Ferrari 430 Scuderia and the 430 GT2. The P4/5 Competizione features a 4.0-liter V8 engine pushing out 450HP and 600 Nm of torque (442.5 lb-ft), and a carbon-fiber body that helps keep the weight down to 1,230 kg (2,712 lbs).

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More than 30 years after George Miller's original Mad Max film starring Mel Gibson as Max Rockatansky hit the screens turning both the American-born Australian actor and his jet-black Ford Falcon XB GT351 coupe-based Interceptor into movie icons, Ford’s local division in partnership with Top Gear Australia magazine, has revealed two concept studies for a modern day Interceptor.

The company formed a group of designers led by chief designer of passenger cars for the Asia, Pacific and Africa region, Todd Willing. The team created several of studies that paid tribute to the styling cues from the original XB Coupe Interceptor, but ultimately, only two made the cut. The winning designs were penned by Nima Nourian and Simon Brook.

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The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid Version 2.0 will be largely based on last year’s model and will feature the 4.0-litre flat-six engine which outputs 350kW of power. The engine will continue to power the rear wheels while two electric motors will be used to power the front wheels. The electric motors at the front will be revised to produce 75kW of power each instead of 60kW of the previous version.

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0 still powered by a six-cylinder boxer engine for the rear wheels and two electric motors that drive the front axle. Production of the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0 is rated 470 hp, as well as electric motors are being revised 60-75 kW each. Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0 offers up to 200 extra horses for a few seconds. The new Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0 differs markedly from its predecessor. This reduces friction and reduces fuel consumption. The "Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0 car" has been completely revised. Porsche AG will enter the Nürburgring 24 hour race on June 25, 2011.

“The focus of our work with 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid Version 2.0 is to boost potency.


One of the major fears consumers have regarding electric vehicles, besides range anxiety, is how these cars are going to function in rough weather conditions. We all know batteries are sensitive to extreme temperatures, which can affect their capacity of storing electricity.

This is why Volvo is trying out its C30 Electric model in the north of Sweden, inside the Arctic Circle. Temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius are something normal in this part of the world, so Volvo engineers want to ensure the battery-powered car runs smoothly even in harsh environments.

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At last November’s LA Auto Show, Nissan lifted the sheets off the revised GT-R that recently went on sale as a 2012MY in North America and as a 2011MY in the rest of the world. Key changes over the previous model include a 45HP bump in output to 530HP, plus a series of aero and chassis tweaks.

For those of you wondering how these modifications affected the GT-R’s performance on the notorious Nordschleife, Nissan’s team managed to shave more than two seconds off the 2011MYs time of 7:26.4, dropping it to 7:24.22, allegedly in less than ideal conditions. You’ll have to skip to about 3:20 into the clip for the driving to begin.

We also found a edited film on Youtube that compares the 2012 GT-R and Corvette ZR-1 on the 'Ring in a split format, which was created by synchronizing the two videos at the pit exit. Watch both videos after the jump.

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