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Jaguar
prepares R Performance Academy
 The
Jaguar XFR and XKR are two of the most powerful Jaguar’s ever
built. When either vehicle is placed in the hands of non-experienced
driver they could cause serious damage – to both the car and driver.
To remedy this predicament, Jaguar is thinking of launching an
R Performance Academy for new owners of the XFR and XKR models.
The school will open in April and the cost for one day’s instruction
will be £400. Jaguar also plans on creating a Jaguar World, in
the style of the Mercedes-Benz Welt. With this attraction the
company hopes to expose Jaguar’s cars to a wider audience.
More
info
Lamborghini
Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce
 Bologna's
best automaker has just released official info and pics on its
latest mighty Murc, and this one tops them all. The LP 670-4 SuperVeloce
is described by Lamborghini as "exceptionally purist".
The description fits as the LP 670-4 SV is more powerful, lighter
and therefore faster than the already pretty quick LP-640. As
its name suggests, the LP 670-4 SV boasts an increase in power
to 670 hp and 487 lb-ft of torque for Lambo's 6.5L V12, all of
which was achieved through simply optimizing the engine's valve
timing and tweaking the air intake system. More
info & pictures
Ferrari
599XX
 The
doors to the 2009 Geneva Motor Show have yet to be officially
flung open, but images have already begun emanating from the Geneva
PalExpo center. The latest come courtesy of Asphalte.ch who are
right now running around the show floor and taking pictures of
everything that's not covered up. These are of the Ferrari 599XX
and directly responsible for the pool of drool at my feet right
now. Based on the 599 GTB Fiorana, the 599XX features the latest
application of Ferrari's extensive research in F1 racing to a
road going car.. More
info
Pagani
bringing "hybrid" Zonda F Cinque
 The
Pagani Zonda F Cinque seen here isn't a hybrid as in "green,"
it's a hybrid of the Pagani F and the Pagani Cinque. The car,
slated to star at the Geneva Auto Show, is a one-of-a-kind Pagani
simply meant to hold a place in our hearts while we wait for the
Pagani Cinque to arrive next year. The car hasn't been finished
yet, but the Zonda F Cinque is essentially a Zonda F in Cinque
colors. More
info
Smart
gets Limited Edition Three treatment
 The
"edition limited three" model tugs at our temporal heart
strings with a new exterior color called Melon Green Metallic.
The Spring-ish hue is carried over into the top soil-colored interior
where it's used as an accent on the seats, door panels and dash.
smart says the interior also features dark brown "leather-effect
details" – spoken like a true economy car salesman. Available
as a coupe or cabrio, the "edition limited three" is
based on the company's Passion trim level and also adds mhd, or
Micro Hybrid Drive.. More
info
Aston
Martin DBS Volante
 The
drop-top version of Bond's uber-Aston features a fabric roof that
can be retracted in 14 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph and supposedly
looks just as good with the top up as the top down. Motivation
is provided by the same 6.0-liter V12 found in the standard DBS,
putting out 510 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque to a rear-mounted six-speed
manual or "Touchtronic" sequential gearbox. The run
to 62 mph is dispatched in a scant 4.3 seconds on its way to a
top speed of 191 mph. More
info
BMW
releases pricing for M Sport Packages
 BMW
has released pricing information on its new "M Sport Package"
for specific 3 Series, 5 Series, and X5 models. The package allows
buyers to purchase many of the "M-Technik" (aka Motorsport)
go-fast cosmetics commonly found on the BMW M3 and BMW M5 in a
factory package (sans the screaming V8 or V10 and the upgraded
brakes, of course). While the "ZMP" package varies from
model to model, it generally includes sport-tuned suspension,
upgraded wheels, sport steering wheel, sport gearshift lever,
anthracite headliner, aggressive sport bodywork... More
info
Audi
TT RS official pics, details hit the web
 Audi
TT RS will arrive in both coupe and convertible bodystyles. Both
are powered by a 340-horsepower, 331 lb-ft, 2.5-liter turbo five
cylinder. The driver rows a six-speed stick, and quattro channels
power to all the wheels. 0-62 mph takes under 5 seconds. As the
teaser shots hinted, look for more aggressive front and rear fascias,
LED driving lamps, and a fixed rear spoiler. More
info & pictures
Giugiaro
concept claimed to be the world's fastest hybrid
 Giorgetto
Giugiaro has a series of successful concepts under his belt, including
the Ferrari GG50 and his own interpretation of the Mustang. But
his most recent design exercise -- the Italdesign Quaranta, shown
at last year's Geneva Motor Show -- was a clear indication that
he was moving beyond bespoke bodywork and taking a long look into
the future of the automobile. At this year's Geneva expo, he'll
take the wraps off another hybrid concept..More
info
Baby
McLaren to take on 911
 McLaren
wants to increase its output by several thousand units over the
next five years and the new "entry-level" supercar is
where it expects to find the sales. In an effort to reduce costs,
the mid-engine coupe will be based off the P11's rear-wheel-drive
chassis, with motivation provided by AMG's 6.2-liter V8. Keeping
size and weight in check are two of McLaren's primarily goals,
so expect a footprint smaller than the R8, a composite body and
plenty of aluminum. Early speculation says that around 450 hp
will be transmitted to a semi-automatic gearbox..More
info
Rolls-Royce
200EX
 Rolls-Royce
has finally released the official details and images of its baby
Roller, the 200EX. The name draws its inspiration from the "experimental"
prototypes that Rolls created during the pre-war era, but this
version is more modern and has its sights set on the Bentley Continental
Flying Spur. While Rolls-Royce has deemed the Geneva-bound 200EX
a concept, expect almost every exterior and interior detail to
carry over to the production model when it arrives in 2010.
More
info & pictures
1600
HP Ultima claims world's quickest car title
 In
this case, chauffer Marlon Kirby and financier David McMahan took
the Ultima GTR – which already claims the fastest quarter-mile,
0-100-0, Nürburgring (almost) and Top Gear (unofficial) track
times – and dropped in an all-aluminum 7.0-liter Chevy small-block
V8 with twin turbochargers to bring the power rating up to 1600
horses, calling the resultant monster the Maxximus G-Force. All
those ponies drive through a three-speed sequential gearbox, while
six-piston AP Racing calipers gripping 14.2-inch discs handle
the stopping power. More
info & videos
2010
Fiat 500C
 As
promised Fiat offered today a preview of its future 500C set to
be revealed in March at the Geneva Motor Show. The 500C has the
same dimensions as the coupe version: 3.55 m x 1.65 m x 1.49 m.
It is also powered by the same three engines available in the
hardtop: a 1.3-liter 75 hp Multijet turbodiesel, 1.2-liter 69
hp gad unit, or 1.4-liter 100 hp gas engine. The big difference
is what Fiat calls, "a fully fledged window to the sky."
The 500C follows in the tradition of the
original Fiat 500 and uses a rolling roof design that allows the
car to retain the shape of the coupe. More
info & pictures
Mercedes
introduces armored E-Class
 The
E-Guard is the latest addition to the automaker's line of armored
vehicles, based on the standard E-Class and upgraded with an array
of security measures. Mercedes installs body armor right into
the chassis, replaces the windows with bulletproof polycarbonate,
a blast-proof floor and run-flat 17-inch tires. The result is
virtually indistinguishable from a standard E-Class, making the
E-Guard less of a target for would-be assassins and carjackers
in the world's less friendly locales. More
info
ARK
ReDesign unveils three-door Range Rover Sport conversion
 Land
Rover has been threatening to build a sport-oriented three-door
model for some time now. The British offroaders first whet our
appetites with the Vesuvius orange Range Stormer, a 2004 show
vehicle that eventually evolved into the production five-door
Range Rover Sport. More recently, Land Rover has shown off the
LRX, also a three-door concept, but word is that it, too, could
grow an extra set of doors by the time it reaches showrooms. Thus,
the aftermarket has taken up the slack, with companies like LSE
taking up the slack and building shortened, "coupified"
versions of the Range Rover Sport. More
info
$2M
DiMora Natalia SLS 2 to get world's first MP3-enabled horn
 Spend
two million bucks on a car, and you'll get to have whatever the
hell you want as a horn tone. Alfred DiMora is back, adding more
splashy aftermarket items to the list of standard equipment on
his Natalia vaporware sport luxury sedan. DiMora Motorcar has
decided that the Horntones system will be factory-fitted to every
V16 Natalia SLS 2 produced. So far, that's none. This isn't the
first time the Natalia has specified an item cherrypicked from
SEMA awards, and we suspect it won't be the last. More
info & pictures
2010
Lexus RX350 starting at $36,800
 The
new luxury crossover from Lexus will hit dealerships later this
month, with a base MSRP of $36,800 for the front-wheel-drive model
and $38,200 for the all-wheel-drive variant (neither price includes
the $825 destination charge). The RX350 comes packing a revised
3.5-liter V6 sending 275 hp and 256 lb-ft of torque to a new six-speed
automatic transmission. The AWD version features an Active Torque
Control system that splits power anywhere between 100:0 to 50:50,
front to rear, depending on the conditions. More
info
Audi
wants a new Murcielago competitor?
 According
to Inside Line, Audi officials confirmed that they are working
on a car that car take on the Lamborghini Murciélago LP640. That’s
impressive for two reason. First, Audi controls Lamborghini, so
using a corporate sibling as a competitor is a little odd. Second,
the V10 in the 5.2 R8 is plucked from the Lamborghini Gallardo
LP560-4, so to get a car to compete with the next Lambo up the
ladder is going to take a lot of work. More
info
First
Bentley Zagato GTZ available at $1.7M
 There
will be nine examples of the Bentley Zagato GTZ manufactured for
discerning plutocrats. As of now, one of them is ready for an
owner, and it is for sale on JamesList.com from a broker in Villorba,
Italy for €1.3 million, or about $1.7 million USD. Purportedly
the only one ready for delivery, this particular GTZ has just
10k (6.1 miles) on its odometer. Unveiled at the Geneva Motor
Show last March, the GTZ leaves the engineered perfection of the
Bentley Continental GT as is, More
info
Aston's
seven-figure, 700hp One-77 still available for order
 The
One-77 is the big-ticket supercar in question, to be built in
a limited run of 77 examples, with only six headed to the US,
five staying in the UK and the remaining 66 ending up in the Emirates
dispersing around the world. Previous reports circulating the
interwebs suggested that the entire production run sold out almost
immediately – before the car was even fully unveiled – but those
reports may have been misleading. Although 100 potential customers
reportedly expressed interest in acquiring the uber-supercar,
the order books have apparently yet to be filled with buyers who've
plunked down the £200k desposit. More
info
2010
Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback on sale in U.S. this summer
Mitsubishi finally announced what we've known all along: the five-door
Lancer Sportback is coming to the States for the 2010 model year
and sales will begin this summer. The 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
builds on the already competent Lancer sedan, although the overall
length is slightly longer to accommodate the new hatch. One-touch
auto-folding rear seats split 60:40 to make room for "active
lifestyle" parcels and Mitsubishi dropped the rear
cargo area floor by three inches to create 52.7 cubic-feet of
space when the rear thrones are folded flat. More
info
Volvo
announces 2010 XC60 pricing starting at $37,200
 Pricing
has been released for the 2010 Volvo XC60 crossover, and the T6
with standard AWD and Volvo's pioneering City Safety low-speed
collision protection system will have a base price of $37,200
plus destination. Power is provided by a turbocharged 3.0L T6
engine pumping out a solid 281 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Premium
features like leather, power driver's seat, SIRIUS, Bluetooth,
and HD Radio with USB and AUX ports are all standard.The Panorama
moonroof will even be offered at no charge as part of an introductory
offer, although Volvo hasn't said how much it will run after that.
More
info
Porsche
unveils updated 911 GT3 for 2010
 Porsche
has released photos of the new 2010 911 GT3 ahead of its official
debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March and the revised model
features a host of upgrades that make it even more potent than
its predecessor. The naturally aspirated flat-six has been enlarged
to 4.0-liters, and now produces 435 horsepower good for a 0-100
km/h sprint in 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 193 mph. Handling
is improved as well, with a modified stability management system
that allows for graduated settings for both stability and traction
controls, along with enlarged carbon ceramic brakes that improve
stopping distances. More
info & pictures
World
Car of the Year - finalists announced
The WCOTY (world car of the year) will
be announced in April at the New York Auto Show, but now we can
narrow it down to 11 finialists: More
info
- Audi A4 / Avant
- BMW 7 Series
- Citroen C5 Sedan / C5 Tourer
- Fiat 500
- Ford Fiesta
- Honda Fit / Jazz
- Jaguar XF
- Mazda Atenza / Mazda6
- Nissan GT-R
- Toyota iQ
- Volkswagen Golf VI.
911
Carrera and Targa 4 get new Sports Exhaust System
 To
get the most out of a Porsche exhaust system, it has to be tuned
to a tone that would likely get its owners in trouble with noise
ordinances in their well-heeled neighborhoods. But Porsche doesn’t
want its enthusiasts to drive tames cars, and it developed a new
adjustable sports exhaust system for the Carrera and Targa 4.
The heart of the system is the exhaust flap on each main silencer
activated by the engine’s electronic control system and switching
over to a more sporting sound as soon as the driver activates
the sound mode. More
info
Ferrari
Hyabusa Trike on display in Tokyo
 Mirroring
the "styling" of a Scuderia Ferrari F1 car, this one-off
trike was spotted at the banzai Tokyo Auto Salon by the same people
who brought us the no-less-bonkers Lamborghini ATV. Based around
a 1.3-liter Suzuki Hayabusa engine and frame, this (thankfully)
unique example was built by Trike Japan in order to showcase what
they can do. We certainly hope the rest of their portfolio is
a bit more tasteful than this showpiece, but we won't be holding
our breath. More
info, video & pictures
Gold
Mercedes C63 AMG
 Looks
like Dubai likes its chromed Mercedes. Back in October we saw
a chromed SLR in the desert city, and now we have pics of a C63
AMG going for the ultimate bling.The look-at-me-shine of this
car just can’t match the appeal of a simple matte black paint
job.
More
info & pictures
Alfa
Romeo to launch Junior sportscar based on MiTo
 While
the Alfa MiTo was under development, speculation placed a number
of different nameplates on the sport hatch. One of them was Junior,
but new reports suggest that Alfa may in fact be preparing an
additional model to carry the Junior name. Although the MiTo was
earmarked to hold down the lower end of the Alfa Romeo range with
styling drawn from the 8C Competizione, in terms of body style,
at least, the new Junior may in fact be closer to the halo supercar
– more of a sports coupe than a sport hatch. More
info
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