Aston Martin returns to Nurburgring 24-hour race with V12 Vantage

Aston Martin will return to the starting grid of Germany’s Nordschleife for its fourth consecutive year of the Nurburgring 24-hour endurance challenge, at May 23 and 24. The carmaker will be using its latest super-sports car, the all-new V12 Vantage coupe, which will be kept in near-standard specification for the event.

‘Rose,’ a yellow V8 Vantage that was first entered the race in 2006, will be the most current car to join the brand’s model lineup. Leading this year’s production effort and attempting to repeat the spotless record of Aston Martin in finishing the 24-hour race, will be the newest V12 Vantage in almost standard specs and will be piloted by Dr. Ulrich Bez, the CEO of the company, and representatives from its engineering team.

Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show last month, the V12 Vantage is the ultimate resurrection of the Vantage range that features a 6.0 liter V12 unit generating 510bhp (417PS) and 570Nm (420lb-ft) of torque. With slight revisions, the standard vehicle is being prepped to participate in the most grueling endurance competitions. This will be the fourth successive time that Dr. Bez will be driving the 24-hour race. This will be the ultimate engineering durability test for the V12 Vantage program, he said. The car will be subjected to the toughest evaluation to date under public examination just like what the company did with the previous N24 program.

The carmaker has a proven track record at the Nurburgring with road cars that came with limited modification and this year they will commemorate the 50th year anniversary of gaining the victory at the ADAC Nurburgring 1000 km with a DBR1. Coming only with essential safety revisions, lowered weight and retuned suspension with absolutely no extra aerodynamic improvements, the V12 Vantage race car will be near to production standard. Pirelli, production tire partner of Aston Martin, has chosen P Zero Circuit Racing polished tires to improve performance guaranteeing consistency and to offer concrete performance connection to the V12 Vantage road car.

The carmaker is expecting several customer teams to join the V12 Vantage on the starting grid of the race. Having clocked up four 24-hour race finishes and in excess of 20,000 miles on the endurance course, the yellow V8 Vantage called ‘Rose,’ and the inspiration for the N24 and GT4 program, will also return to the Northern Loop. Aston Martin considers the N24 and GT4 program as a big success up to this time. From its beginning in 2006, no standard N24 from the factory or customer team has failed to complete the 24-hour race in 13 global starts, a strong tribute to the Vantage’s durability.

BMW pricing X5 M and X6 M performance SUVs in U.S.

Recently BMW has revealed pricing for the new X5 M and X6 M SUVs, which will start at $85,400 and $88,900, respectively, when they go on sale in the U.S. in the second half of the year. Full pricing and options, as well as pre-order sales, will be available from next month onwards.

BMW admits that it would like to draw customers away from vehicles like the Mercedes Benz ML63 AMG and Porsche Cayenne, and in an effort to make its M SUVs more appealing has fitted the pair with standard 20in wheels, sports seats, red needle gauges, and Merino leather trim.

Both models are powered by a newly-developed 4.4L V8 M engine delivering 555hp (412kW) at 6,000rpm and 500lb-ft (677Nm) of torque from a low 1,500 to 5,650rpm - enough to send the vehicles from 0-60mph in just 4.5 seconds.

This new M engine is the world's first with a pulse-tuned exhaust manifold encompassing both rows of cylinders combined with high-performance twin-scroll twin turbo technology. Two low-mass twin-scroll turbochargers are positioned together with the catalytic converters in the "V" section between the two banks of cylinders. By reversing the flow of gases through the engine from traditional arrangements, the intake and exhaust ducts are shortened and widened. The result is that pressure losses on the exhaust side are minimized.

This configuration, known as Cylinder-bank Comprehensive Manifold (CCM), offers quick turbo spooling, a linear build-up of engine power, and a broad, consistent torque curve by feeding each of the twin turbochargers with a "charge pulse" at approximately every 90 degrees of crankshaft rotation, rather than the more traditional "irregular schedule" of charging. Maximum boost pressure is set at 1.5bar (21psi).

BMW M engineers have also reworked the full drivetrain and chassis, adding new M-specific adaptive suspension, an uprated intelligent xDrive AWD system, and newly-developed Servotronic power steering.

Also featured for the first time on an M model is a six-speed automatic transmission, which for the X5 M and X6 M also comes with an electronic selector on the center console and offers three different driving modes – Drive, Sport and M Manual modes for absolute control of gear selection.

Corvette Grand Sport is back

The Grand Sport name last appeared on the Corvette in 1996, commemorating the end of the C4 era. Only 1,000 copies were built, all painted Admiral Blue. It also pays homage to five hand-built racing Corvettes from 1963 ordered up by chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov .Now, the Corvette Grand Sport is back!!

Set to roll in later this year as a 2010 model in both coupe and convertible bodystyles, the new Grand Sport combines the standard Corvette LS3-based powertrain with widebody styling and a race-bred suspension, and gives Corvette fans a new performance option between the standard model and sexy Z06.

The Grand Sport replaces the Corvette's previous Z51 package and brings a greater degree of handling performance, with wider wheels and tires, revised shocks, new stabilizer bar and spring specifications and new gearing. The equipment enables cornering capability of up to 1.0g, as well as a 0.2-second improvement in 0-60mph acceleration versus the standard LS3-powered models.

The engine’s output has been kept at 430hp (321kW) and 424lb-ft (575Nm) of torque, however, an optional two-mode exhaust system boosts output to 436hp (325kW) and 428lb-ft (580Nm).

Grand Sport coupe models equipped with the manual transmission are outfitted for race track competition, too, with a dry-sump oiling system, differential cooler and a rear-mounted battery. The manual transmission also comes with specific gear ratios, while automatic models get a modified rear axle ratio.

Specific modifications for the Grand Sport coupe and convertible include wider front and rear fenders with unique badging, a Z06-style front splitter and rear spoiler, new brake ducts, unique 18in wheels with 275mm tires up front and 19in units shod with 325mm rubber in the rear, Z06-spec brakes include 355mm rotors with six-piston calipers up front and 340mm rear rotors with four-piston calipers.

All of the Corvette's exterior colors are offered on the Grand Sport and an available ‘Heritage’ package adds iconic front fender hash marks offered in four colors, as well as two-tone seats with Grand Sport embroidery.

Audi Q3 will be launched in 2011，along with the Audi A1

Recently Audi released some details about the upcoming Q3, that will join the “Q” family in 2011. The Q3 will further expand the Q family. Around the same time we should also see the small city car A1.

The Q3 will be the third model in the Q series belonging to Audi, following the Q7 - recently facelifted and presented at the Shanghai Auto Show - currently manufactured in Bratislava, Slovakia, and the Q5 launched last year and produced in Ingolstadt, Germany.

Audi Q3 production site will be the SEAT site in Martorell, Spain. Manufacture will begin in 2011 with an annual production capacity of up to 80,000 units. The total investment will amount to around €300 million.

“Following in-depth consideration of all relevant factors and an extensive international comparison of various sites, we selected Martorell,” explained Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management at AUDI AG. This decision enables Audi to continue its strategy of growth and internationalization. Mr. Stadler added: “We are counting on this Spanish site’s efficiency, the excellent quality of the Production department, and its highly trained staff. We will use the Group’s synergies to sharpen our competitive edge and help protect around 1,200 jobs. The decision furthermore safeguards workplaces at other Audi locations.”

Having agreed that the Q3 will be manufactured in Spain, a decision about production in the USA has been postponed. Mr. Stadler: “We will systematically explore our options in the context of the current market crisis. Audi is in a good position. There is currently no urgent need to select additional sites.”

Q3 will be a coupé-like five-door SUV with characteristic of a typical SUV. According to Audi, the Audi Q3 will stand out thanks to a supremely sporty driving experience.

Toyota working on a hybrid version of the RAV4

According to Toyota’s managing officer Mr. Koei Saga at an industry conference in Shanghai, Toyota is planning to produce a hybrid version of the RAV4 SUV. No exact dates were given, but as Toyota plans to introduce 10 new hybrids globally by 2012 we expect RAV4 Hybrid to hit U.S. dealerships by 2011.

Mr. Saga also added: “I believe Toyota needs to accelerate the 2020 goal to hybridize all the Toyota models.”

RAV4 Hybrid would use Toyota’s third-generation hybrid system. Toyota RAV4 SUV/Crossover was introduced first in 1996 and during 1997-2003 it was also produced as an electric vehicle. Around 1,5000 RAV4 EVs were produced. It had a range of 100 miles and a top speed of 80 mph.

For some strange reason most of the cars were destroyed, but 328 examples made it to customers. At the time they were priced from $42,000. Today they are very rare and cost more than $70,000 if you can find one.

Gemballa Tornado 750 GTS: the 750 hp beast based on the Porsche Cayenne Turbo

The high-performance SUV is something of an oxymoron at first blush, but anyone that's taken the wheel of a Porsche Cayenne Turbo or Mercedes Benz ML-Class AMG knows it's possible. Gemballa takes the concept to the next level, dropping over 550lb (250kg) from the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and boosting power to 740hp (552kW).

The weight savings are perhaps the most welcome change to the highly tuned SUV, since most tuner kits add weight through more elaborate interiors and bulkier aero packages. Slashing over 550lbs of weight from the vehicle while bringing a full Alcantara and carbon-fiber interior to the table is an impressive feat, and a serious improvement over the stock vehicle and even its own limited-edition Tornado GTS.

Power is the real story here, however, with over 750 horses straining to break out from under the hood. The twin-turbo V8 cranks out a massive 740hp (552kW) or 750 metric horsepower - hence the name. Torque tops out at 775lb-ft (1,050Nm), and that's enough grunt to scoot the big - but now relatively light - vehicle to 62mph (100km/h) in just 4.3 seconds. That's near-supercar territory, as is the 186mph (300km/h) top speed.

Keeping the shiny side up is a custom supsension that allows the ride height to be adjustable by 70mm, suiting purpose and conditions with ease. Big 22x12in wheels at all four corners wrapped in 335/25 aspect tires helps keep the power and momentum under control. When the whole show needs to come to a stop, a set of six-piston brakes paired with 420mm discs up front and 380mm discs out back provide ample capacity.

The end result is impressive in every respect, including its impact on your wallet. Only 50 of the special-edition Tornado 750 GTS Cayenne Turbos will be built, at a price of €400,000 ($521,880) - yet another way that the Tornado delves into supercar territory.

Mercedes-Benz celebrates 100th anniversary of trademark with special-edition CL 500

To celebrate one hundredth birthday of the Mercedes three-pointed star and the Benz emblem, the company launched an exclusive edition of the CL 500 Coupe called “Trademark Centenary”.

The CL-Class has been acknowledged as a masterpiece of automobile engineering since its inception. It combines the comfort of a prestigious luxury saloon with the dynamism of a sports car, with a captivating design and trailblazing high-tech features. With its exclusive appointments, the special “100 years of the trademark” model underlines the special status of the CL.

The special-edition CL 500 gets a unique metallic graphite paint finish from Mercedes' 'designo' custom collection, an AMG sports package, top-grade, partly hand-stitched aniline leather, piano black lacquer trim elements and examples of the trademarks set into the center console. Power comes from the same 388hp (285kW) V8 found in other CL 500 coupes.

The AMG package includes a set of front, side and rear fascia treatments plus sport pedals and painted brake calipers. Special 20in split-spoke wheels in titanium grey - unique to the CL 500 Trademark Centenary edition - are shod with 255/35 rubber up front and 275/35 treads out back.

The 100th birthday of the Mercedes star is actually yet to come, however - it was first registered in June 24, 1909 by Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft. Just over a month later, on August 6, 1909, August Benz & Cie. registered the 'Benz' mark ensconced in a laurel wreath. The two marks didn't join forces until a year before the merger of Daimler and Benz, which took place in 1926.

By the way, the special “100 years of the trademark” model can be ordered with immediate effect, and will be available from 26 June as the CL 500 and CL 500 4MATIC. The extra price for the extensive and highly desirable additional appointments is 17,850 Euro incl. 19% German VAT.

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