But what we didn’t see before is the interior, which actually received very minor changes. It appears that the more premium trim levels will get minor upgrades, but the Q5 does sport a new steering wheel design.

The 2013 Q5 will ride on an updated chassis that also see’s changes to its suspension to enhance its ride quality. A more fuel-efficient engine lineup will also find its way under the Q5 hood and will include the popular, supercharged 3.0-liter TFSI.

[Source: www.autoguide.com  ]

Dragon-thingies: special gold-painted alloys, special red and gold paint on the car, ancient-style dragon-characters on the B-pillar and the red-gold theme continues in the interior. Potential Chinese car-buyers were all over it, so it likely will sell.

All very nice this dragon stuff and such and such. Now, who do you think designed this thing? Must be some tea drinking girls in Smart’s artyfarty multiculturally department, right? No, wrong:

It was Brabus… Shame on Brabus! Once a company that made mad cars nobody could drive. Now this crap. Dragon’s engine hasn’t been tuned at all, smells cheap… But it got worse! There was yet another Brabus designed Smart special-China-edition on the hippydippy booth. Close our eyes!

A pinky Brabus ‘Tailor Made’ Smart Fortwo Cabrio. This, is a Brabus! Still holding your food in? Comes the interior:

The Horror! That’s it for today, we’ll be back tomorrow with much more news from the Beijing Auto Show…

[Source: www.carnewschina.com  ]

The C63 AMG Black Series coupe features an AMG 6.3-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine rated at 517hp and 457 lb-ft of torque. This is the most powerful C-Class model the German brand has ever built, and it even eclipses the Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Coupe which runs in the DTM series, as it only puts out 500hp from its V8. The Black Series Safety Car has been fitted with a modified AMG sports exhaust system. A special rear silencer is said to guarantee a distinctive AMG V8 sound.The Safety Car can sprint from 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds and reach an electronically-limited top speed of 186mph.

For track purposes, the C63 AMG Black Series has been fitted with a pair of AMG Sport bucket seats has been added along with four-point seatbelts. An AMG Performance steering wheel wrapped in Nappa leather and Dinamica has been installed as well.Check out the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series Safety Car in the gallery below. The coupe will make its official debut on the track at the Hockenheimring on April 29, when the 2012 DTM season kicks off.

[Source: www.carbuzz.com ]

As for the work carried out on the car, Canibeat’s article suggests that the work was carried out on a 911 GT2 chassis, however, considering GT2′s regularly trade hands for 250,000 euros plus, we doubt that. Coupled with the fact that the 993 GT2 never had a sunroof, we can say that this is a re-bodied Porsche 993, and an awesome one at that.

It has an authentic GT2 wide body kit, a carbon fiber rear spoiler and the GT2′s front lip. In terms of mechanics, AMS Autowerks chose to install GT2 cams, a modified GT2 exhaust manifold, K24/18G Billet turbos, a custom dual 38mm wastegate, custom GMG style exhaust, a carbon fiber Gruppe M intake, side-mount oil coolers and a Powerhaus custom built and geared six-speed gt2 transmission.

To finish off with the suspension, the car features Ruff/Andial spec coilovers, H&R sway bars and a Bremb brake kit. Let us know what you think in the comments box below!

[Source: www.gtspirit.com ]

“Our designers and engineers are exploring a range of options for turning the EN-V concept into a reality,” said Kevin Wale, president and managing director of the GM China Group. “The EN-V 2.0 concept would use technologies such as the mobility Internet, electrification and telematics to help change the automotive landscape and ensure a sustainable future for our industry.”

The improved version of the Chevrolet EN-V 2.0 Concept is adding a revised exterior design, climate control and personal storage space and the model is now driveable in all weather and city road conditions thanks to its four wheels.

[Source: www.inautonews.com ]

The British owner fled Dubai, presumably after a business deal or property venture went bad. In Dubai, debt is a criminal offence. The owner of the car probably fled to avoid being caught by the Dubai Police Force and having to serve a lengthy prison sentence. By escaping the country, back to the United Kingdom, he ensured the British government would not extradite him to the emirate. To authorities suggest that the car has a number of outstanding traffic fines which gave the authorities the right to seize the Ferrari.

He left the hypercar in a parking lot close to the airport. The Ferrari Enzo later became wanted by Interpol and was seized by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Dubai Police Force. 20 months after the cars was abandoned, we see it is up for auction. The Ferrari could fetch as much as 5.6 million dirham (500,000 euros).

The emirates laws allow the authorities to seize a vehicle that has been abandoned for more than six months. To participate in the auction, a 50,000 dihram deposit has to be made, to simply watch will cost you 110 dihram.

The Ferrari Enzo isn’t the only supercar to be found abandoned in the United Arab Emirates. In the past we’ve seen a Ferrari F40, a Jaguar XJ220, a BMW M6 and a DMC DeLorean all languishing in the sun.

[Source: www.gtspirit.com  ]

So what’s with the name? Toyota says that the ‘Yundong’ name suggests ‘movement upon clouds’ and is Toyota’s corporate slogan in China. ‘Shuangqing’ suggests “dual support” and signifies the two power sources of the petrol-electric hybrid system.

“We would like to put smiles on the faces of our Chinese customers with hybrid technology,” said Toyota President Akio Toyoda. “I want the people of China to be able to experience the beauty of hybrid technology through a hybrid car born in China.”

[Source:  www.egmcartech.com  ]

Designed by international teams from Style Peugeot in Paris, in Shanghai and in Sao Paulo, the design directive was to conceptualize an agile, multi-role, compact vehicle with confident styling that synthesized the designs of the current 3008 model and SXC concept car which debuted at the Shanghai Motor Show in 2011.

With a length of 4140mm and a width of 1740mm, the Urban Crossover is 18cm longer than Peugeot 208 and 22.5cm shorter than the Peugeot 3008.

No further details were provided about features or powertrain. But you can read about the full design analysis in the press release below.

[Source: www.worldcarfans.com ]

 Other gold details include a pad-printed engine cover, bolts for the fuel-filler door and the taillamp assembly, a Chinese dragon character side badge and wheel center caps.

Same theme continues inside with black leather seating surfaces with bronze-gold accent piping and stitching. More dragons are features in the head restraints, leather covers the outside edges of the seats and front center arm rest.

The car is powered by the Pentastar V6 developing 284 horsepower (209 kW) and 347 N•m (256 lb.-ft.) of torque. It’s a fabulous car, unless you hate dragons!

[Source: www.motorward.com ]

It's added a walnut burr and oak-banded dashboard, white paint and forged alloys to tick off sight. Sound's covered by an upgraded amplifier and "exciter" speakers hidden in the leather headlining. Smell gets serviced by soft-grain leather, which, according to RR adds "hints of the woody spice", and taste by a special coolbox with champagne flute carriers. Touch is covered by natural grain leather and acres of lambswool. Seriously; the stuff's everywhere. Even in the 490-litre boot. 

Underneath the wood and leather there's the standard 6.6-litre 48-valve V12, which winds out 563bhp and 575lb ft of torque. Plenty power to put the fear of God into anything in the near distance.

Hints-of-the-woody-spice exponent, RR CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös, says, "Ghost Six Senses redefines a simple truth. A Rolls-Royce is always so much more than the sum of its beautiful parts. The Ghost Six Senses concept is a luxurious environment designed for the most discerning of individuals. It delights the senses and draws you into somewhere that transcends the interior of a car."

[Source: www.topgear.com ]

The Japanese company began production of the Camry in Russia in November 2011 with sales of the mid-size sedan having surged 66 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of this year, while overall, Toyota recorded a 22 per cent increase to 32,859 units during the same period.

"Starting two-shift operations is a significant event for our plant," said Toyota Motor Manufacturing Russia (TMMR) President Yoshinori Matsunaga. "Our employees’ commitment to Toyota principles in quality has resulted in us gaining Russian consumer trust and high evaluations for our Camry. It makes us at TMMR glad to be able to contribute to the economy of St. Petersburg and to its employment."

The automaker said that it plans to increase localization in Russia by adding stamping and resin-moulding processes to its production during 2014.

[Source: carscoop.blogspot.com ]

The move to produce Infiniti models in China, where tariffs of 25 percent put imported vehicles at a disadvantage, should put Nissan on a better footing to compete with market leaders Audi AG, Mercedes Benz maker Daimler AG and BMW AG, which all produce locally.

While making cars in China is likely to boost sales, analysts said the company would have to ensure that it maintained proper quality controls.

“Localising your luxury brand, which is supposed to stand out in quality and customer experience, is always a challenge,” Kurt Sanger of Deutsche Bank told the BBC.

Nissan will debut a new version of its midsize Infiniti M 35 hybrid sedan at theBeijing Motor Show on Monday with an extended wheelbase that is designed to appeal to chauffeured Chinese car owners.

Automakers plan a series of global premieres at the show and are bringing SUVs and luxury sedans designed for Chinese buyers.

Growth in China’s vehicle sales plunged from an eye-popping 35 per cent in 2010 to just 2.5 per cent last year as the economy slowed.

General Motors, China’s biggest auto brand with 2011 sales of 2.5 million vehicles, says it expects to boost sales 7 to 10 per cent this year, outpacing the market.

[Source: www.inautonews.com ]

Compared to the Italian, the British saloon with rear-wheel drive will sport only two seats, however providing a larger boot space. The engine will be a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 with output of 600 hp, which accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in around 3 seconds reaching a top speed of 325 km/h.

[Source: www.eurocarblog.com ]

“We have to send a message to that regime that no longer can it be business as usual until they renounce their nuclear weapons program and stop sponsoring terrorism around the world,” said former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mark Wallace, who heads United Against a Nuclear Iran.

International firms who are operating in Iran have to face economic sanctions and political pressure from advocacy groups rallying against the country’s nuclear efforts and current government. In spite of economic sanctions, Iran’s auto industry has grown to be the largest in the Middle East, building more than 1.6 million vehicles in 2011.

Nissan and Peugeot seem to be the only companies that do not want to leave Iran entirely. When asked about this issue Nissan declared that the company doesn’t sell cars to Iran but that local manufacturer Pars Khodro is permitted, by license, to sell certain Nissan model names in the country.

“Nissan appears to be the vehicle of choice of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who often rides in an armored Nissan SUV,” said New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.

[Source: www.inautonews.com ]

Insisting that the calendar will probably not expand much beyond 20 races, the F1 chief executive also admitted that "circumstances change".

If that's the case, the most important races could be like international tennis' Slams.

"Absolutely," Ecclestone told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. "I'm working on it.

"And if it gets that far, then there would be more points for the Grand Slam races."

[Source: www.worldcarfans.com ]

[Source: www.autoblog.com ]

The Land Rover Defender Wood is appropriately-named due to its beautiful and expertly-crafted wooden floor. It covers a powerful sound system complete with DVD player and 15-inch LCD screen. On top of the wooden floor are brown Nappa leather-wrapped seats and side panels.

Black Nappa leather covers the steering wheel, dash and center console. Alcantara has been fitted around the new sport seats, rear view mirror and visors, amongst other surfaces.Vilner has yet to release pricing information for the Land Rover Defender Wood edition.

[Source: www.carbuzz.com ]

Aside from launching the new Denza brand, which is a joint venture for the production of EVs between Mercedes-Benz's parent company Daimler and BYD, the Chinese automaker will reveal its own pure electric concept model named the Qin.

The study is said to use BYD's DM II dual-mode technology with a powerful electric motor driving the front wheels.

The four-door sedan reportedly accelerates from standstill to 100km/h (62mph) in just 6.9 seconds, while BYD also claims that the cost to run the Qin is about 16 Yuan (~€2 or US$2.5) per 100 kilometers (62 miles).

BYD has not yet revealed its future plans for the Qin.

[Source: carscoop.blogspot.com ]

While the discount is certainly impressive, it only lowers the base price of an entry-level Maybach 57 to $279,050 (€212,660 / £175,170). This makes it $5,950 (€4,535 / £3,735) cheaper than a Bentley Mulsanne but still $119,550 (€90,980 / £75,050)  more expensive than a Mercedes S600.

[Source: www.worldcarfans.com ]

The project is still ongoing so we can expect better and better times as more modifications are made. Before the modifications were made, the owner dynoed the E63 producing figures of 555 horsepower and 545 ft-lbs of torque (471.09 horsepower and 463.80 ft/lbs of torque at the wheels). 40 horsepower and 40 ft-lbs more torque than OEM claims.

After fitting stage one of the tuning kit, a Renntech ECU upgrade, the team dynoed the car once more. This time they got 578.33 horsepower and 621.93 ft/lbs of torque at the wheels (680 horsepower and 732 ft-lbs of torque at the crank). Over 100 horsepower of power gain with just a simple ECU tune!

The video you see below was shot at Palm Beach International Raceway in Florida in temperatures around 80 degrees fahrenheit and with damp conditions. As we already said, the car was completely stock with stock tyres and a stock exhaust. This is claimed to be the fastest Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, however, we’re sure there are faster vehicles out there.

It goes to prove the versatility of Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG V8 BiTurbo engine. If a simple ECU tune can unlock so much power, imagine what a full complement of tuning products could do! We look forward to seeing more.

[Source: www.gtspirit.com ]