As Will Smith says in one of his songs, "Summer, summer, summer time". Time to sit back and unwind. Well Mr. Smith and Carscoop readers, that's exactly what we plan on doing. Carscoop writers will be taking a brief hiatus for the next 4-5 days. As much as we enjoy bringing car news and other interesting bits of information to the masses, those Pina Colada's are just callin our names. However, being the work-a-holics that we are, we might take a brief break from the babes and Coronas to post something interesting!

So until next Tuesday, August 14th, Bon Voyage!

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A well executed replica is a copy of a car that is practically indistinguishable from the original vehicle. Apparently that’s not the case with this replica of a mid 80’s Porsche 911 (dubbed VW Porrera...) that we discovered on Australian eBay. However, being the weirdos we are, that’s precisely why we love this particular replica; it’s so painstaking obvious that it’s based on a Volkswagen Beetle that in the end we really, really dig it! Pity its current owner didn’t throw in a Porsche boxer engine, now that would’ve made it perfect in our books. -Image gallery after the jump

Link: eBay

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BMW’s Audi RS4 adversary, the M3 Sedan has been caught with its… camouflage down by member M16 of the M3Post forum. Probably the most interesting feature on the M3 Sedan is the Coupe derived front end (bumper, headlamps and grille), which actually fit the sedan quite good. Expect the E90 M3 Sedan to get the same 420 Hp 4.0-liter V8 powerhouse as the E92 M3 Coupe. Although this has not been confirmed, we’ve learned that there’s a good chance that both the M3 Sedan and M3 Cabriolet will make their world debut at the forthcoming Frankfurt Motor Show next month. -Follow the jump for more images

Via: Jalopnik , Source: M3post

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Our Dutch friends at Autoblog.nl are reporting that Californian coachbuilder Fisker has introduced a facelift version of its BMW 6-Series based Latigo CS coupe. While Fisker has yet to free a press release, judging from the pictures provided, the revised Latigo CS features new headlights and a restyled front bumper which kinda reminds us of the one found in the BMW M6. Furthermore, the rear end is slightly redesigned incorporating a new set of tail lamps. -Continued after the jump

Via: Autoblog.nl

2007 Latigo CS

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If you’re a police officer in Bangkok and you happen to be late at work, park in the wrong place or commit any other misdemeanors then get ready to be punished by wearing a bright pink… “Hello Kitty” armband with two hearts embroidered on it.

This degrading internal law was improvised by Thai police chiefs in order to punish officers who break the rules. "This is to help build discipline. We should not let small offences go unnoticed," Police Colonel Pongpat Chayapan told Reuters news agency. "Guilty officers will be made to wear the armbands in the office for a few days, with instructions not to disclose their offences. Let people guess what they have done," he added.

As funny as it may seem to outsiders, in our opinion this is a totally unacceptable internal rule that humiliates and degrades a human being’s personality.

Via: bbc , Pic: AP

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Apparently this Russian guy lost control of his Lada and ended up, or rather down, the subway entrance. According to the guy who took the pictures, not only did the driver escape without getting hurt but luckily for him, there were no innocent by-passers at the time at the subway’s stairway entrance. -Click “Read More…” below for more images

Via: webpark

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Our Brit friends will be able to pick out a new alloy rim design from MOMO UK as the company announced the addition the “Torque 3000” to its Corse road rims line-up. According to MOMO, the retro styled, 5-spoke Torque 3000 is available in 6.5x15”, 7x16”, 7x17” and 7.5x18” fitments priced at £100, £110, £120 and £157 per wheel respectively. -High-res pic after the jump

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Hyundai’s US arm announced today that that it will add a second version to its Elantra line-up in 2008, the “Elantra Touring” 5door model. Even though Hyundai avoids saying it in the press release, the Elantra Touring is actually based on the European designed i30 C-Segment model. We remind you that the i30 is practically a re-designed Kia Cee’d which was also designed in Europe.

Although this is not officially verified, our inside information is that the American version of the i30 will be based on the i30 Station Wagon model and not the 5door hatch, something that may explain the different tail-lights in the sketch in comparison to the i30 5door (see pics here). The Elantra Touring will go on sale in the States in spring of 2008 as a 2009 model and it will be offered with the same 138Hp strong 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine as the Elantra Sedan. –Press release after the jump

HYUNDAI ANNOUNCES NAME OF FUTURE FIVE-DOOR

ALL-NEW 2009 ELANTRA TOURING MOVES A POPULAR NAMEPLATE IN A SPORTIER, MORE FUNCTIONAL DIRECTION

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., 08/08/2007 Hyundai Motor America Vice President of Product Development and Strategic Planning John Krafcik, speaking at the Center of Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars, announced Hyundai’s all-new five-door compact will be named “Elantra Touring.” Elantra Touring will reach dealers in the spring of 2008 as a 2009 model year vehicle. The “Touring” name captures this all-new model’s combination of high-function and fun-to-drive character. Elantra Touring will once again extend Elantra’s product line into the compact five-door segment. (The previous generation also featured a sporty five-door model). Elantra Touring will come with class-leading standard safety technologies, including Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control, ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution, and six standard airbags, including side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. The vehicle will be the first compact five-door with standard Electronic Stability Control.[1]

Elantra Touring will have the most interior volume (passenger volume plus cargo space) of any five-door in its class and will be powered by the same fuel-efficient 2.0-liter, in-line four-cylinder found in the Elantra sedan. This newest Hyundai will also feature unique sport suspension and steering tuned for greater response and handling, while offering Hyundai’s first USB port, along with a standard auxiliary jack and standard XM Satellite Radio®. Elantra Touring’s competition will include the Toyota Matrix, Dodge Caliber and Mazda3.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 750 dealerships nationwide.

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Prominent spy photographer Brenda Priddy has put up a bundle of silver and black super sticky duck-tape from a 2009 Jaguar XF prototype that she retrieved from a dumpster for sale on eBay. Sounds kinda silly at first but actually Brenda has a good purpose as the money from the sale will all go for charity. Whoever wins the bid will have to donate the money to a specific foundation (see after the jump).

According to Brenda, once the winning bidder proves that he made the donation he’ll get apart from the duck tape, a 12x18-inch original singed Jaguar XF prototype photo (for personal use) and two purple "Espionage" writing pens from the firm of Brenda Priddy & Company. Moreover, if the winning bid is over $75 Brenda will throw in an “Espionage” hat, while if it’s over $150 she’ll also add another 12x18-inch original signed Jaguar XF Prototype picture. And to make things even more alluring Brenda promises to pay all eBay fees and shipping as long as they’re below $250. It's for a good cause so if you've got a few extra bucks laying around, go for it. -Continued after the jump

Link: eBay

Charity Foundations

• Make A Wish Foundation (http://www.wish.org/)
• American Heart Association (http://www.americanheartassociation.com)
• March of Dimes (http://www.marchofdimes.com/)
• American Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp)
• Fisher House (http://www.fisherhouse.org/)
• Peace Corps (http://www.peacecorps.gov/)

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Sometimes it really kicks ass to be working for a renowned mag as this video proves. Autocar’s Mike Duff had the chance to take VW’s intriguing Golf GTI W12 Concept for a spin –ok, apparently it was a pretty brief spin but wtf… Equipped with a mid-mounted 6.0-litre W12 Twin Turbo engine derived from the Bentley Continental GT, the 650Hp Golf GTI is capable of sprinting from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in just 3.7 sec while it reaches a top speed of 325 km/h (202 mph). Wouldn’t it be great if VW actually did go ahead and put this one of a kind GTI in a limited series production? Obviously, most of us wouldn’t be able to buy it, but pipe-dreaming never hurt anyone.

Via: Autoblog.it , Source Autocar

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Continuing the celebrations for the forty years of Mazda’s Rotary Engine Vehicles (see here), the Japanese automaker announced the introduction of an ultra limited special edition of the RX-8 labeled as “Rotary Engine 40th Anniversary”. Based on the RX-8 Type S (six-speed manual transmission) and the Type E (six-speed automatic transmission) model grades, the “Rotary Engine 40th Anniversary” will be available exclusively in Marble White body color while the interior is covered in black leather and light silver Alcantara.

Apart from the special limited edition badgetry mounted on the side panels, the “Rotary Engine 40th Anniversary” also features an array of special equipment which include Bilstein dampers and a urethane foam-filled front suspension cross member and a special engine cover. The special edition RX-8 will be available in the Japanese market in only 200 units with prices for both the 6-speed manual and automatic versions set at 3,150,000 yen (including consumption tax) which is about $26,590 or 19,340 EUR. -Press release and image gallery after the jump

Mazda Releases 'Rotary Engine 40th Anniversary' Commemorative Limited Edition RX-8 in Japan

HIROSHIMA, Japan—To commemorate forty years of Mazda’s rotary engine vehicles sold globally, Mazda Motor Corporation has commenced sales of a limited edition model Mazda RX-8 throughout Japan. The RX-8 Rotary Engine 40th Anniversary edition is available from today at all Mazda and Mazda Anfini dealerships.

Since the 1967 introduction of Mazda’s first vehicle powered by a rotary engine, the Cosmo Sport (known as the 110S overseas), Mazda has continued to produce and sell various rotary engine-powered cars, most notably the Familia Rotary Coupe (known as the R100 overseas), the Savanna (RX-3), RX-7, and Eunos Cosmo. Currently, Mazda is working on technical improvements in fuel economy and environmental performance for its rotary engines. Mazda also intends to advance the potential of the hydrogen rotary engine as part of its long-term vision for technology development, Sustainable Zoom-Zoom, which was announced in March 2007.

The RX-8 ‘Rotary Engine 40th Anniversary’ model is based on the RX-8 Type S (six-speed manual transmission) and the Type E (six-speed automatic transmission) model grades. The interior is designed to evoke the Cosmo Sport heritage and includes exclusive black genuine leather and light silver ALCANTARA^®* combination seat covers. The exclusive Marble White body color and special limited edition badges mounted on the side panels are perfectly suited to commemorate the fortieth year of Mazda’s rotary engine vehicle sales. Special equipment -- including exclusive Bilstein dampers and a urethane foam-filled front suspension cross member -- has been fitted for a higher quality ride and better performance.

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for both the six-speed manual and automatic versions is 3,150,000 yen (including consumption tax). Production will be limited to 200 units.

Features of the Mazda RX-8 Rotary Engine 40th Anniversary model Base model

• Mazda RX-8 Type S (6-speed MT model) or Mazda RX-8 type E (6-speed AT model)

Special equipment Exterior

• Semi-gloss chrome light bezels (fitted to headlights and rear combination lights)
• 40TH ANNIVERSARY ROTARY ENGINE badge
• 18-inch highly reflective Dark Silver chrome aluminum alloy wheels
• Front fog lights (with blue reflectors)

Interior

• Exclusive black genuine leather and light silver ALCANTARA^®* combination seat covers and light silver synthetic leather door trim are a modern interpretation of the Cosmo Sport’s unique interior design.
• Eight-way power-adjustable front seats with power lumbar support.
• Exclusive black leather-wrapped steering wheel and hand brake (with grey stitching)
• Exclusive black leather-wrapped gear shift (with grey stitching) on the MT model
• Aluminum pedals and footrest (These are special equipment for the 6-speed AT, but are standard equipment on the MT base model.)
• Water repellent glass coating (windshield glass, front door windows, and door mirrors)
• Advanced keyless entry & engine starter system

* ALCANTARA^® is a registered trademark of Alcantara S.p.A.

Engine/Chassis

• Rotary engine: By using rotors that have been finely balanced for their weight and rotation characteristics, the smooth performance of the rotary engine has been further enhanced.
• Special engine cover
• Bilstein dampers:The Bilstein dampers were exclusively designed for this limited edition RX-8 in order to achieve higher levels of performance and comfort.
• The front suspension cross member is filled with urethane foam. The urethane foam filling provides the ideal amount of vibration suppression to deliver a desirable degree of direct feedback, ensuring a high quality steering feel.
• Large diameter disc brakes (These are special equipment for the 6-speed AT, but are standard equipment on the MT base model.)
• 225/45R18 91W tires and 18-inch alloy wheels (These are special equipment for the 6-speed AT, but are standard equipment on the MT base model.)

Body color

• The classic shade, Marble White, is offered exclusively.

Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices for Mazda RX-8 Rotary Engine 40th Anniversary Limited Edition: 6-speed MT / 6-speed AT - 3,150,000 YEN (Inc. Tax)

A separate recycling fee of 12,330 yen is necessary in addition to the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices listed above.

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Well, that was fast; the first or one of the first (can’t be sure) US Spec 2008 Subaru Impreza WRXs was listed for sale on eBay with a starting price of $27,164. Just the other day I happened to visit a Massachusetts Subaru dealer with a friend who was looking into buying the current WRX and they didn’t even have the 2008 Impreza brochures in their hands, let alone the cars –though I did see a couple of days ago several ’08 WRXs being transferred on trucks at the Mass pike.

Back to the eBay 2008 Impreza WRX which consequently is wearing the same honeycomb grille as the Aussie version, has clocked a mere 7 miles and according to the seller, its equipped with 17-inch alloys, a 5-speed stick shift, CD-player, automatic climate control and cruise control. -More images after the jump

Link: eBay

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Back in June, Michelle and Haley had sent us an email featuring their hand built Ferrari 250 GTO Replica based on a Nissan 280Z and equipped with a BMW V12 engine (see pics here & video here). Now, two months later, we received another email from Michelle informing us that their replicated Ferrari was written up in Motive Magazine’s website in a manner that would have made Ferris Bueller take another “day off” all over again.

The article revisited all the real life locations of the 1986 flick “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” from the steps of Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Illinois to the actual garage Ferris parked his 250 GT California Spyder LWB, the article drew picturesque scenes from what became and will forever remain a classic film with a classic car. -Continued: Click “Read More…” below

Even though there were some “slight” differences in Michelle and Haley’s car and the car in the video (the one in the movie was a roadster), they still shared the same reminiscent attributes and the fact that both vehicles were replicated versions. In the movie, Coachbuilder Modena Design used a small-block Ford V8 in a custom tube chassis to create the vehicle that was “so choice”. Visit motivemag.com to read the story and we thank Michelle and Haley again for sharing their interesting adventure with us.

Posted by Dani

Link: motivemag

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Quoting an article from Russian newspaper Vedomosti, Reuters is reporting that the owner of local car maker GAZ, Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska, has bought a 5-percent stake in General Motors. GM’s stock closing price at Monday was $32.45 per share meaning that if Deripaska actually bought 5% of the American car maker on Monday he’d have to withdraw a whopping $900 million out of his bank account. Not much if you consider that according to Forbes magazine, Deripaska is Russia's second richest man with a fortune estimated at $16.8 billion.

Via: Autoblog.com , Source: Reuters

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Spy photographers or shall we call them spy cinematographers have managed to scoop the top-version of the next generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class performing test runs around the iconic Nurburging race track in Germany. Expected to be introduced in late 2009 or early 2010, the E 63 AMG will probably retain the current model’s 514Hp strong 6.3-liter V8 upgraded though to produce around 550Hp in order to justify the 2009/2010 name tag.

Via: WFC

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Subaru Japan has presented the 2008 model year Legacy “Tuned by STI”. Unfortunately our Japanese is as bad as yours and the translation sites can’t seem to differentiate between sushi and suspension. But anyway, with the help of the image gallery we suppose that changes over the stock version include revised suspension and brake system, a sporty exhaust and the usual STI body and interior upgrades. Hopefully Subaru will release an English press release later on, but until then take a look at the picture gallery after the jump. -Continued

Via: Le Blog Auto , Source: Subaru

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Yeah we know, BBQ Grilles? But this ain’t no ordinary BBQ Grille as it’s been penned by the renowned Italian car-designing house Pininfarina. Even though we’re definitely more of the barbeque eating guys than the cooking ones, this grille would look mighty good next to the Ferrari F430 in our dream garage.

Via: Motorpasion , Link: Coleman

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If you’re a “petrolhead” with plenty of time in your hands then this puzzling hand-made desk clock made from a 70’s Porsche 911 Turbo speedometer and a tachometer is something you should consider adding to your collection. According to its maker “PWH”, the tachometer acts as the hour hand while the speedometer as the minute hand. Both hands only travel through 180º - the upper part of the gauges – so the entire range of 12 hours / 60 minutes is compressed into half. At the end of their travel the two hands rapidly return back to 0. Makes Einstein’s “theory of relativity” seem like a piece of cake doesn’t it… -More images after the jump

Thanks for the link Pete!

Via: PWH

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Four years after the second generation A8’s market launch in early 2003 and just two years after its first facelift in 2005 which saw the introduction of the so-called single-frame grille inspired by the Nuvolari Concept, Audi has come forward with the 2008 A8. Aesthetically, minor changes include the slightly modified single-frame grille, rectanglurar fog lights, exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals, new wheel designs and LED tail lights along with new paint finishes and new interior colour schemes and inlays.

Most of the changes come under the skin though as Audi revised the steering system for a more direct feel while overall travelling comfort has been enhanced by the modified adaptive air suspension and extensive improvements to noise insulation. Audi also introduced a new 2.8 V6 FSI petrol engine delivering 210 Hp and a maximum torque of 280Nm. The A8 2.8 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 8.0 seconds with a maximum speed of 238 km/h (148 mph) and an avg. fuel consumption of 8.3 l/100 km (28.3 mpg). In Germany the Audi A8 2.8 FSI costs from 61,900 EUR - $85,350. -Follow the jump for the press release

Audi A8: Sporty luxury and exemplary efficiency

• New A8 2.8 FSI offers the lowest CO2 emissions in its class
• Consistent enhancements across the model series
• A new driving experience in one of the world's quietest cars

The Audi A8 not only offers the sportiest performance of any luxury-class saloon, it also stands out as a model of efficiency. A particularly outstanding example is the new A8 2.8 FSI: superlative performance and excellent comfort make it a joy to drive. But at the same time, with a standard fuel consumption of 8.3 l/100 km, its CO2 emissions of 199 g/km are the lowest in its class.

The new A8 model series features major advancements across the range, which includes the top models Audi A8 W12 and Audi S8, and offers a new driving feel whilst building on traditional strengths. An even more precise driving feel, even better ride and acoustic comfort, and subtle refinements to the exterior and interior serve to strengthen the special status of Audi's flagship model.

Unique character – consistently enhanced

To achieve this, many aspects have been refined in the unique blend of sportiness, elegance, supreme control and sophistication that forms the Audi A8 character. For instance, the more direct steering and re-engineered running gear have produced even more exact handling. Overall travelling comfort has also been enhanced by the modified adaptive air suspension and extensive improvements to noise insulation. These make the Audi A8 one of the world's quietest and most comfortable saloon cars.

The new assistance systems Audi lane assist and Audi side assist promise to make life easier for the driver and considerably enhance safety, especially on long journeys. Their tasks are to alert the driver if the car begins to drift out of its lane and to warn of vehicles in the adjacent lane.

Luxurious, sporty motoring with low fuel consumption

The 2.8 FSI impressively demonstrates how well the Audi A8 combines luxurious, sporty motoring with high efficiency and low fuel consumption. Its efficiency nevertheless comes with exciting performance, as the new high-tech V6 engine produces 154 kW / 210 bhp and delivers its maximum torque of 280 newton metres over the broad rev band of 3,000 to 5,000 rpm. With acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in just 8.0 seconds and a maximum speed of 238 km/h, the Audi A8 2.8 FSI is an effortlessly powerful performer.

High-tech engine with lightweight design concept

Thanks to its state-of-the-art engine and an exceptionally low vehicle weight of only 1,690 kilograms, the A8 2.8 FSI has a standard fuel consumption of just 8.3 litres per 100 kilometres. That is equivalent to CO2 emissions of 199 grams per kilometre – the lowest value of any luxury-class car. Here the dual benefits of low vehicle weight – thanks to lightweight aluminium design based on Audi Space Frame technology – and low wind resistance make themselves felt, in both excellent performance and equally good fuel economy.

The new six-cylinder engine demonstrates "Vorsprung durch Technik" with FSI petrol direct injection and the innovative Audi valvelift system. This new technology adjusts the valve lift, varying it between two levels. The Audi valvelift system uses sliding cam units mounted on the intake camshaft, which are moved by an electronic control mechanism. Depending on the engine power demand, the valves are opened wide or less wide as determined by the position of the cam units.

The advantage: the required quantity of fresh charge can be very efficiently controlled via the valve opening. Most of the time, the throttle valve remains fully open, thus substantially reducing throttle loss. In combination with a series of additional measures to reduce friction on numerous components, the Audi valvelift system reduces fuel consumption by ten percent.

High power transmission comfort with athletic qualities

The new A8 2.8 FSI is equipped with front wheel drive and the multitronic continuously variable automatic transmission. The multitronic not only offers unmatched power transmission comfort with fully jolt-free acceleration, its tall overall gear ratios make for very fuel-efficient motoring. Nevertheless, the seven fixed ratios available in manual mode reveal its thoroughly athletic qualities.

In Germany the Audi A8 2.8 FSI with its extensive standard equipment costs from 61,900 euros incl. VAT.

Consistently enhanced

The A8 impressively embodies the progressiveness of the Audi brand: its extremely rigid lightweight body based on the Audi Space Frame principle, the powerful FSI and TDI engines, quattro permanent four-wheel drive and the highly acclaimed MMI operating system are a few of the elements that demonstrate Audi's impressive "Vorsprung durch Technik" in the luxury class.

The character of the Audi A8 is formed by a synthesis of dynamic and agile performance and exceptionally refined ride and acoustic comfort. While setting new standards with its agility and steering precision, the A8 displays handling with definite sports car qualities. Even long journeys are both relaxing and pleasurable.

To underscore the unique character of this luxury saloon, Audi has further enhanced the two major strengths of the A8. The rack-and-pinion steering with variable steering ratio and servotronic speed-dependent power assistance has been optimised and engineered for a more direct feel. The dampers, supports and tuning of the adaptive air suspension have been revised. As a result, the A8 shows an even more spontaneous response to steering input, tightly follows winding country roads and effortlessly maintains a smooth straight line at high speeds.

Air suspension with even more sensitive comfort

Gains in performance and handling are matched by those in ride comfort: the standard-specification adaptive air suspension is now even more sensitive in responding to fine bumps. The electronically controlled variable dampers are now fitted with new seals to reduce friction. These are combined with new valves that have optimised characteristic curves, and the entire hydraulics have also been retuned. The A8 absorbs expansion joint grooves with supple ease and without even the hint of a vibration. With the addition of an insulation package to reduce rolling noise and road noise, the luxury saloon from Audi offers outstanding comfort.

Exemplary soundproofing

Even the complete acoustics of the A8 have been optimised with the use of innovative materials – after all, Audi approaches noise insulation as a component of its intelligent lightweight construction. The result: without gaining weight, the Audi A8 achieves the lowest rolling, road and ambient noise levels in its class. Being one of the quietest cars in the world is an important element of the relaxing long-distance comfort that is a hallmark of the Audi A8.

Assistance systems bring comfort and safety

Drivers of the Audi A8 can rely on the support of the most up-to-date assistance systems. They serve to enhance comfort and combat driver fatigue on long journeys, thus making an important contribution to safety. The new Audi side assist in the A8 makes use of intelligent radar technology.

The system is especially designed for lane-changing manoeuvres and warns the driver of dangerous situations: whenever there is another vehicle in the critical zone, a yellow LED display in the exterior mirror housing lights up and remains on.

If the driver of the A8 activates the indicator to change lane even though the warning display is lit up, the LEDs become brighter and flash more quickly at shorter intervals. This signal is almost impossible to miss as the peripheral vision of the human eye is extremely sensitive to changes in contrast.

Audi lane assist warns the driver to prevent an unintentional departure from the lane. A small camera positioned above the interior mirror on the windscreen observes the road ahead of the car and a high-speed computer detects the lane marking lines. If the driver moves towards one of these lines without indicating, Audi lane assist makes the driver aware of this by a vibration in the steering wheel.

Still a step ahead in the luxury class

The clear and progressive design idiom of the Audi A8 stands out for its timeless quality. The exterior design has thus only been accentuated at carefully chosen points – from the modified single-frame grille and new exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals to the new wheel designs and LED tail lights with their innovative night design. To complete the range, the A8 is available in new paint finishes and with sophisticated aluminium trim inserts plus new interior colour schemes and inlays.

The Audi A8 thus resolutely continues its progress on the road to success. With sales of over 100,000 vehicles so far, the current model has already exceeded the total sales volume of its predecessor. And it is continuing to make gains year by year in a market segment that has remained flat overall. How come? Because the A8 steadily attracts customers from other brands with its clear character, while at the same time product loyalty and repurchase rates among A8 drivers are above average.

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Just as we told you back in June (see here), Mazda officially announced that it will introduce the second generation Mazda6 (known as the Mazda Atenza in Japan) at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The Japanese carmaker avoided releasing any details but it’s no secret that the Mazda6 is based on the new Ford Mondeo / S-MAX platform. The engine line-up is expected to include 4-cylinder (diesel and petrol) and V6 units. Design-wise, the new “6’s” fascia looks like an evolution of the new Mazda2 but that’s about all we can say about the Mazda6’s styling. The new mid-size sedan will go on sale in Europe this November with US sales following early 2008. -Click "Read More..." below for the press release

All-new Mazda6 to Debut at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show

Hiroshima, 07th August 2007. Mazda Motor Corporation will showcase the world premiere of the all-new Mazda6 (known as the all-new Mazda Atenza in Japan) at the 62nd annual Frankfurt Motor Show to be held from Tuesday, September 11 through Sunday, September 23, 2007.

The Frankfurt Motor Show press days are September 11 and 12, and the public days are September 15-23. Mazda will hold its press conference on Tuesday, September 11, at 13:45 (local time).

The all-new Mazda6 arrives as a full redesign of Mazda’s first model to embody the Zoom-Zoom product philosophy, offering a thrilling drive to all those who still remember the love of motion first experienced as a child. Following the all-new Mazda2, the new Mazda6 is the second Mazda new generation product to evolve to the next stage, further deepening the emotional connection between man and machine - Mazda calls it “Kizuna”.

Inheriting Mazda’s tradition of responsive handling and performance that has become recognized around the world and evolving the original model’s distinctive design and exceptional functionality, the all-new Mazda6 takes a step forward in quality and offers strengthened environmental and safety performance. The result is an exciting and delightful experience that only the all-new Mazda6 can deliver.

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This foolish Fiat 500 driver got a bit too excited when he realized he was about to “win” the race…theoretically speaking. As he was pumping his fist outside of the car window in anticipated victory, he lost control and swerved uncontrollably off the track missing the finish line by a few feet. Hey buddy, next time, keep both hands on the wheel! *As our readers rightfully pointed out, its a Fiat 600 and not a Fiat 500

Posted by Dani

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Mitsubishi UK just launched a new special edition version of the L200 pick-up truck named Raging-Bull which will be initially available in just 500 units. According to Mitsubishi, the L200 Raging Bull is tied up with Phil Vickery's exclusive performance clothing company. Wondering who the heck Phil Vickery is? Well, duh, he's the England rugby captain.

Apart from that, the Double Cab L200 Raging Bull which is available exclusively in vibrant Aztec Red, features Raging Bull motif at the base of the driver and passenger doors, in the back support of the front seats and stamped into the front door entry guards. It also gets chrome resin guard inserts and a chromed sports grille up front while at the rear, there's a step bumper and stainless steel lamp bezels. Equipped with a 2.5-litre 136PS common-rail diesel engine mated to a 4-speed auto, the Raging Bull costs 19,249 GBP, 2,000 GBP more than the standard L200 Warrior, but with almost 4,000 GBP worth of extras.

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The only common ground between the mid-80’s first generation Mazda RX-7 and the late 60’s Jaguar E-Type is the front-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive layout. But that seemed a good enough base for this old chap to create a unique replica of the stunning Jaguar E-Type Convertible using the chassis and the 135Hp strong Wankel rotary engine of a 1985 Mazda RX-7 (FB, 3rd Series). Even though the Rotary powered E-Type might lack the… penis-like analogies of the original Brit model, the fiberglass body is pretty detailed and you may fool some people. Plus, you’ll get a kick out of the looks on everybody’s faces when they hear the rotary engine scream. The RX-7 E-Type Convertible was sold on e-Bay a couple of days ago for $16,000 or 12,250 EUR. -More images after the jump



























Link: eBay

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Kia has taken off the wraps on the second preview image of the three door Cee’d, dubbed Pro-cee’d, unveiling the tail of the car which has remained quite close to the original concept previewed at the 2006 Paris Show. Judging from this image, we’d say that former Audi designer Peter Schreyer took a rather close look at the 3door A3 (see pic below) when he penned the Pro-cee’d. In any case, Kia’s sporty hatch looks like quite the piece and we believe that its design will draw a lot of attention in the European C-Segment category (VW Golf, Opel Astra, Renault Megane etc).

“We wanted to make Pro-cee’d as ‘sporty’ as cee’d could possibly be, while still remaining a member of our cee’d family,” explains Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer, Kia Motors Europe. -Continued: Click “Read More…” below

“We are proud that the appearance of the Pro-cee’d production car remains so close to the concept we showed at the Paris Motor Show in 2006. The three-door Kia Pro-cee’d is such a comprehensive re-working of the cee’d design theme that only the bonnet and the front wing panels are carried over from the five door model. All other exterior panels are new and exclusive to this car.”

The new Kia Pro-cee’d three-door hatchback model will make its World Premiere at this year’s Frankfurt International Motor Show on 11 September and will go on sale across Europe in early 2008.

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Nissan is due to become the first Japanese carmaker in more than a decade to offer a diesel powered passenger car to the domestic market as it announced its plans to launch a new clean diesel engine for use in the X-Trail SUV in the fall of 2008.

In Europe the Nissan X-Trail is offered with the 2.0-litre M1D diesel unit developed by Alliance partner Renault which is available in two levels of output, 150hp and 173hp. Torque outputs are 320Nm and 360Nm respectively, 90 per cent of which is developed, in both cases, at 1,750rpm. Both engines are fitted with diesel particulate filters to minimize emissions. Standard on both versions is a six-speed manual transmission, though the 110kW model is optionally available with a new six-speed automatic. –Follow the jump for the press release

NISSAN TO INTRODUCE CLEAN DIESEL ENGINE IN JAPAN - X-TRAIL diesel to debut in 2008 -

TOKYO (August 6, 2007)--Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced plans to launch a new clean diesel engine for use in the X-TRAIL sport-utility-vehicle, to be introduced in Japan in the fall of 2008. Based on the M9R engine co-developed with Alliance-partner Renault, the Nissan version will adopt original clean diesel technologies (high-performance catalysts and advanced engine management technologies). This clean diesel engine is being developed to lower exhaust gas emissions to levels comparable to those of new emission standards in Japan. Further details on performance and specifications will be revealed closer to introduction.

Introducing its first clean diesel engine in Japan is another action planned under the Nissan Green Program 2010, the company’s mid-term environmental action plan focused on CO2 emissions reduction. Nissan is committed to bringing the right technology to the right market at the right time with the right value to the customer. Major research and development programs include fuel cell cars, hybrid cars, biofuel-based cars, electric vehicles, improvement in gasoline engines and clean diesels.

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Dario Franchitti was touched by an angel yesterday as he survived a spine tingling crash during the IndyCar Series at Michigan International Speedway. Franchitti’s car was sent flying 30 feet into the air after the wheels of his car touched those of Dan Weldon’s and ultimately created a 7 car pileup. Tony Kaanan might have won the race, but Franchitti definitely got the headlines. Watch the vid and you’ll see what we mean.

Posted by Dani

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Maserati might have abandoned F1 race tracks a long time ago but the Italian sports car maker remembers its racing past by celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of its 1957 F1 title won by Juan Manuel Fangio in the 6-cylinder, 270Hp strong Maserati 250F. The Modenese company will commemorate the jubilee with a series of special events including the presentation of a special trophy to the highest placed 250F that competes in the OldTimer Grand Prix classic to be held at Nurburgring on 12 August. Simultaneously, Maserati launched a dedicated interactive website on 4 August 2007 that includes multimedia feauture. The site can be reached at www.maseraticelebratesfangio.com.

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Following Friday’s announcement on the completion of Chrysler Group’s sale to Cerberus Capital Management, the newly formed car group dubbed “Chrysler LLC” announced today that it appointed the controversial former Home Depot CEO, Bob Nardelli, as its new chairman and CEO. Chrysler’s current CEO Tom LaSorda, who was thought by many to be the major candidate for the position, will be president and vice chairman of Chrysler, reporting to Nardelli. On the other hand, Eric Ridenour, Chief Operating Officer, chose to leave the newly formed company. According to Chrysler LLC, the COO position will not be filled. -See Chrysler LLC’s full press release after the jump

Chrysler Announces Leadership Changes

Bob Nardelli Appointed as Chairman and CEO; Tom LaSorda to Continue with Chrysler as Vice Chairman and President

Auburn Hills, Mich., Aug 5, 2007 - Chrysler LLC today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Bob Nardelli as Chairman and CEO of Chrysler LLC. The Board also announced that Tom LaSorda has been appointed Vice Chairman and President of Chrysler LLC, reporting to Nardelli.

“We are excited to welcome Bob to the Chrysler family,” said LaSorda. “Bob has a proven track record of success and an unwavering focus on performance, and brings deep operational experience and a broad industry background to Chrysler. His background in operations will provide valuable knowledge as we continue Chrysler’s turnaround.”

“I am very excited to be part of a team focused on re-establishing Chrysler as a standalone industry leader, with a renewed focus on meeting the needs of customers,” said Nardelli. “Chrysler has many deeply talented and dedicated people, and I am confident that together we can continue the momentum of Chrysler’s recovery and return this great American icon to a path for global growth and competitiveness.”

In addition, Eric Ridenour, Chief Operating Officer, has elected to leave the new company to pursue other opportunities. The COO position will not be filled going forward. "Eric gave this company 23 years of great service and leadership," said LaSorda. “We wish him well in his new pursuits."

Concurrent with the close of the Chrysler transaction on August 3, 2007, the new Board of Directors of Chrysler LLC was formed. It consists of 11 members, including Nardelli, LaSorda, representatives of Cerberus and Daimler, and independent directors.

Cerberus and Chrysler would like to thank Wolfgang Bernhard for his contributions leading to the closing of this transaction. Both Cerberus and Chrysler had looked forward to his continuing contributions as Non-Executive Chairman of Chrysler, however due to personal and family reasons he was not able to accept that role.

Cerberus has also asked, and Tom LaSorda has agreed, to serve as the Vice Chairman of Cerberus Operating and Advisory Company LLC (COAC), Cerberus’ proprietary operations advisory affiliate. In that role, LaSorda will assist in the continuing development of COAC, which works closely with the portfolio companies in which the funds and accounts managed by Cerberus are invested.

Prior to joining Chrysler, Nardelli served as Chairman, President and CEO of The Home Depot beginning in 2000. During his tenure at The Home Depot he doubled sales as well as the number of store operations; moved globally into Mexico and China; and delivered more than 20 percent earnings-per-share growth for four consecutive years while growing dividends from 16 cents to 90 cents per share. Nardelli also has extensive senior operations experience in manufacturing and transportation systems.

Nardelli received his bachelor’s degree in business from Western Illinois University and earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Louisville.

Nardelli, an Atlanta resident, chairs the Atlanta Board of Visitors of the Savannah College of Art and Design and has also served on President Bush’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. He has also chaired the advisory board for the nonprofit group Hands on Network and strongly supported KaBoom!, a national nonprofit organization building community playgrounds. Nardelli has received numerous awards for his strong support of military veterans, and received the Distinguished Pennsylvanian Award from Gannon University (1995) and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Business and Technology at Western Illinois University (1997 and 1999). He is an alumni fellow and 2001 Alumnus of the Year of the University of Louisville, and serves on the National Visiting Committee Advisory Board, University of Louisville Graduate School of Business.

About Chrysler LLC

Chrysler LLC, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, produces Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge and Mopar® brand vehicles and products. Total sales worldwide in 2006 were 2.7 million vehicles. Sales outside of North America were the highest in a decade with an increase of 15 percent over 2005. On the heels of the company’s record product launch year (Chrysler launched 10 all-new vehicles in 2006), the company plans to extend that streak with eight all-new products in 2007. Its product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300, Jeep Commander and Dodge Charger. The Chrysler Foundation, the company's philanthropic arm, gave $23.6 million in grants in 2006.

About Cerberus Capital Management, L.P.

Established in 1992, Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. is one of the world’s leading private investment firms with approximately $26 billion under management in funds and accounts. Through its team of more than 275 investment and operations professionals, Cerberus specializes in providing both financial resources and operational expertise to help transform undervalued companies into industry leaders for long-term success and value creation. Cerberus is headquartered in New York City, with affiliate and/or advisory offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Baarn, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka and Taipei. More information on Cerberus can be found at www.cerberuscapital.com.

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Nothing beats a shiny new Jaguar. Well, maybe except a 1975 Cadillac Deville Coupe covered in “Jaguar fur”. According to Costume Blog.com, this guy gave up trying to save his pennies for a Jag and decided to economically dress his Caddy up to serve his purposes. The only problem is, when it rains, the Jag will quite literally smell like one. -Posted by Dani

One more image after the jump

Via: costumeblog

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Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year (1977-2007), Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist Brabus will unveil a high-performance sports sedan at the 2007 Frankfurt International Show in September. The German tuner characterizes the car in its own words as a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing. Although Brabus avoided giving out any details they did hand out a picture of the car covered in black clothing. As you can see for yourself in the pictures after the jump, a closer look reveals that the vehicle hiding underneath is a 2007 C-Class. Up until now Brabus’ most powerful version of the new C-Class is the 344Hp strong V6 C350 (see here). So what’s in store for us at Frankfurt? In our humble opinion, a V8 powerhouse delivering far more than 400Hp. -Press release after the jump

BRABUS Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary at IAA 2007

World Debut of a True “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” and Launch of the Redesigned BRABUS Website

Bodo Buschmann founded BRABUS back in 1977. On occasion of its 30th anniversary BRABUS presents an automotive ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing” at the Frankfurt International Auto Show IAA 2007 that will redefine this fascinating vehicle segment. The debut will be accompanied by the launch of the newly designed BRABUS website at www.brabus.com.

BRABUS is the world’s largest independent automobile tuner and is considered a car manufacturer by the German Federal Motor Vehicle Registration Agency (Kraftfahrtbundesamt). The BRABUS tradition of building legendary special models is as long as it is successful. What started back in 1984 with a Mercedes 190 equipped with a V8 engine, led eventually to the BRABUS E V12 that in 1996 set a new world record for fastest street-legal sedan in the Guinness Book of World Records with a top speed of 330 km/h (205 mph). Today that same record is held by the BRABUS ROCKET with a top speed of 365.7 km/h (227.2 mph).

The idea of dropping an immensely powerful engine into the engine bay of a sedan with almost indiscernible exterior modifications now reaches its latest pinnacle with the debut of a new ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing.’ The latest BRABUS special model based on a Mercedes-Benz vehicle delivers performance that only a very few of the world’s super sports cars can match.

Since 1997 some ten million auto enthusiasts have visited the continually updated BRABUS website. Now a completely redesigned website goes online at www.brabus.com.

Users can find loads of interesting information on BRABUS, its 30-year history and the extensive BRABUS product lineup. But that’s not all: An interactive virtual tour also offers glimpses behind the scenes of the dream factory in Bottrop.

The BRABUS Art Club is another new feature of the online presence of BRABUS. For the inauguration the club will feature a photo editing contest. Online visitors can choose from various BRABUS models and then render these models in scenery they can design. An international jury will select the best of these art works that will be presented on the new BRABUS website and elsewhere. There are also a number of attractive prizes.

A pit stop that allows interested visitors to virtually mount any available BRABUS wheel on the latest Mercedes models of their choice is also part of the site as are downloads of the various BRABUS sales literature and the latest selection of available BRABUS complete vehicles.

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Saab has released a new set of images featuring the all-new 9-7X Aero model (see press release here) equipped with a Corvette derived, 6.0-litre LS2 V8 that produces 390Hp. Wondering what the hell is the jet doing in the images provided by the Swedes? Join the club. Despite Saab’s or rather GM’s persistence to convince us that the 9-7X Aero is yet another Saab “Born from jets”, between you and me, we’re just talking about a rebadged version of the Chevrolet Trailblazer SS with a 45k base price. Sounds more like “priced like a jet” rather than born from one… -Click “Read More…” below for the image gallery

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Though these muscle-car inspired USB flash drives might lack the finesse of Sandisk’s exquisite Ducatti USB line-up that we showed you a couple of weeks ago, nevertheless, since we’re suckers with any type of automotive related gadgetry we thought we’d share. Available from Esty Shop, the hand-made muscle-car USB flash drives come in three models: the Ford thunderbird 256MB classic Low Rider, the Pontiac Bonnevile (?) 1GB Muscle HOTTRod and the Dodge Challenger 1GB Blazin Green Machine. The 1GB models cost $30, while the 256MB model costs $17. -Continued after the jump






Link: etsy

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Yes, we know, another 2008 M3 E92 video, but we wouldn’t have bothered posting it if it wasn’t interesting. In contrast with Autobild’s previous M3 video and even though it's all German to us, this one contains several tire burning scenes worth looking at. Check it out and you’ll see what we mean.

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Taking Eames Shell Chairs to the 21st century, Garageworks Industries have presented a modern interpretation of the famed chair design substituting fiberglass with carbon fiber, a material that has found many uses in the car industry thanks to its strength and light weight. But chairs? Sorry but we’ll have to agree with our friends at Motorpasion that although the chairs look mighty nice -especially beside the Lamborghini Murcielago, this is one seat we wouldn’t like to put our buttocks on.

Via: Motorpasion

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