Luxury 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL AMG

An official picture of the updated 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL (see the spy shots here) in AMG guise has been found by our fellow bloggers over at Autoblog.nl. The facelifted CL gets a new snout with a more pointed design and a single, instead of two, horizontal bar on the grille along with new LED daytime running lights.

We still don't know if there are any changes under the hood, but it is believed that like the new CLS AMG, the CL 63 AMG coupe will get Merc's new 5.5-liter bi-turbocharged V8 engine delivering 544 ponies in standard form and 571HP with an optional performance package.

Post Title → Luxury 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL AMG

Flamboyantly unique Audi S5 Coupe

Found for sale on eBay is this flamboyantly unique Audi S5 Coupe featuring a killer color combination that makes it stand out like a lime in a bowl of lemons. And this ain't no vinyl wrap; the "Porsche Lime Green" exterior finish was a special factory order that cost the owner $2,500. Open the door and you'll see why most manufacturers don't allow customers to combine certain exterior shades with certain interior colors even if they are available.

Post Title → Flamboyantly unique Audi S5 Coupe

Chevrolet Cruze Irmscher Edition with 186HP

Chevrolet and its European tuning partner Irmscher presented a humbly beefed up version of the Cruze compact sedan with cosmetic and performance upgrades at this week's AMI motorshow in Leipzig, Germany.

Dubbed the Cruze Irmscher Edition, the car gets an optional boot lid spoiler along with 18-inch alloy wheels shod in beefier 225 sport tires and aluminum door sills.

Irmscher's performance modifications include a 25mm suspension drop and exhaust silencers with elliptical twin exits along with a 36HP and 146Nm boost for the 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine increasing total output to 186HP and 466Nm at 2,300 rpm.

According to the tuner, the diesel version accelerates from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in 8.0 seconds.

Post Title → Chevrolet Cruze Irmscher Edition with 186HP

Luxury 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Facelift

This here is the refreshed 2011 CL-Class, which despite the rumors, doesn't adopt the S-Class Coupe moniker as part of Mercedes-Benz's new nomenclature that started with the new E-Class Coupe that replaced the CLK. For its mid-life facelift, the CL coupe has received a mild redesigned and a new bi-turbo V8 engine.

Visual updates include a redesigned front bumper housing LED strips with chrome surrounds for the daytime running lights, a reshaped hood, new headlamps and a more V-shaped grille.

The LED turn indicators and position marker lamps along with the reprofiled rear bumper and newly-designed tail lamps round off the exterior changes.

Inside, the higher-quality trim materials and new color options are matted with redesigned multifunction wood/leather steering wheel steering and additional ambient light spots.

Under the bonnet, there's a new 4.7-liter bi-turbocharged V8 engine with BlueDIRECT technology for the CL500 (CL550 for North America), which comes with a revised version of Mercedes-Benz's seven-speed automatic gearbox with an integrated stop-start system and brake energy recuperation.

The eight-cylinder unit produces 429HP, a 12 percent increase in power over its predecessor, which had an output of 382HP. At the same time, torque was raised from 391 lb-ft to 516 lb-ft, an increase of 32 percent.

Furthermore, the new V8 engine achieves a 10-15% improvement in fuel economy and 23% improvement in CO2 emissions.

The CL500 / CL550 4MATIC requires 4.9 seconds to accelerate from a standstill to 100km/h (62mph), a 0.5 second improvement over the previous model.

The range also includes the CL600, with its 510HP 12-cylinder biturbo engine and 612 lb-ft. of torque that accelerates the luxury coupé from a standstill to 100km/h (62mph) mph in a 4.5 seconds. Top speed on both models is electronically limited at 250km/h (155mph).

For buyers needing more power, Mercedes will debut the new CL63 AMG and CL65 AMG models later this year.

Among the many tech highlights is a new Active Lane Keeping Assist safety feature that utilizes a camera mounted on the inside of the windshield and a radar system that scans the side of the roadway, to gently apply the brakes when the driver steers away from his lane.

Post Title → Luxury 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Facelift

Luxury Qvale Mangusta

One of the 270 or so Mangusta sports cars that were produced by Qvale between 2000 and 2002 is up for sale on eBay with the current owner asking $26,500 to depart with it.

The Qvale Mangusta has quite an interesting history behind it involving many different people and companies over the years.

Designed by Marcello Gandini (notice the signature shape of the rear wheel arches), responsible for the styling of many cars including the Lamborghini Miura and Countach, Maserati Quattroporte and the first generation BMW 5er, the 2+2-seater convertible began its life at the 1996 Geneva Motor Show as the De Tomaso Bigua.

However, due to various problems (chiefly financial), it never made it into production as the Bigua with De Tomaso selling the rights to the car to the Qvale family, a US importer for high-end European cars.

Qvalve went ahead and renamed the car after an older De Tomaso model, the Mangusta and begun production at a new assembly plant in Modena, Italy, in 2000.

The Mangusta features an odd roof system with a targa-like removable center panel and a separate mechanism that allows the rear section to electrically rotate into a dedicated space behind the seats, thus allowing the car to be a Coupe, a Targa or a Roadster.

Power comes from a Ford Mustang-sourced 4.6-liter V8 with 320-horspower and 314 lb/ft of peak torque that propels the Mangusta to 60mph (96km/h) in 5.5 seconds and to a top speed of around 150mph or 241 km/h, while returning 26mpg on the highway (all manufacturer figures).

Ford's pony-car also provided the five-speed manual gearbox, steering wheel system, the dashboard, switchgear and a whole bunch of other bits and pieces.

Most Mangustas were exported to the USA but Qvale never managed to achieve its sales target of around 900 cars a year and ended up selling the rights to the Mangusta to Britain's MG Rover Group in 2003. MG used the car's underpinnings to build the short lived Xpower SV from 2003 to 2005.

Post Title → Luxury Qvale Mangusta

New Chevrolet Cruze CS Sport Kit for UK Market Model

Chevrolet has launched a new sport package called "CS" for the UK market Cruze. Available from mid-July on all trim and engine variants of the Cruze, the styling kit includes a set of 18-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels finished in white, a lowered suspension, a boot spoiler, unique CS graphics and matching carpet mats. Chevrolet has priced the sport package at £1,595, which includes VAT and fitment.

In Britain, the Chevrolet Cruze is offered with a choice of two petrol engines, a 1.6-liter unit with 113HP and a 1.8-liter unit with 141HP, and a 2.0-liter turbo diesel available with 125HP and 150HP versions.

Post Title → New Chevrolet Cruze CS Sport Kit for UK Market Model

2011 Fastest Mercedes-Benz SLK Roadster Reader Spy Shots

Carscoop reader Benjamin L. has grabbed some new spy shots of the next generation Mercedes-Benz SLK. Apparently, the German automaker is still conducting real-world testing for the new hardtop roadster as Benjamin snapped this prototype earlier today wondering around the outskirts of Paris in a black plastic suit of armor.

Like the current version of the SLK, Stuttgart's BMW Z4 rival will feature a two-piece folding metal roof, but it will also receive all of Mercedes' newest gadgets and accessories.

While the heavy camouflage doesn't allow us to get a clear view of the new SLK's looks, it is expected that Mercedes will drop the current model's F1-inspired nose in favor of a much bolder grille and more geometrically shaped headlamps, all themed after the SLS AMG Gullwing model.

Previous spy shots (see here) confirm that the new SLKs interior will be completely revamped with the dashboard styling also inspired by the Gullwing supercar.

There will be significant changes under the skin as the two-seater model will make use of the new C-class platform and suspension hardware, tuned to deliver more responsive handling characteristics.

Powerplant options at launch are expected to include Mercedes-Benz's latest-generation four-cylinder and V6 petrol units, with an AMG version featuring either a twin-turbo V6 or a turbocharged V8 to follow later on.

Post Title → 2011 Fastest Mercedes-Benz SLK Roadster Reader Spy Shots

Luxury 2011 Ford Shelby GT500

Even though the 2011 Shelby GT500 carries a base price of $49,495 without any options ticked, Ford has already received more than 3,000 orders for the 550HP Mustang since the car was announced earlier this year. But despite the sales success, the Deaborn-based automaker said today that U.S. sales of the 2011 Shelby GT500 will be limited to just 5,500 units for this model year.

"We are pleased with the pace of retail orders for the 2011 Shelby GT500," said Fritz Wilke, Mustang brand manager. "The car continues to be popular with sports car enthusiasts and collectors who are blown away by the increase in horsepower and performance. The limited production of the 2011 should make this year even more desirable."

Based on the latest Mustang, the 2011 Shelby GT500 is powered by a new aluminum-block 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine, which churns out 550 horsepower and 510 lb.-ft. of torque.

Post Title → Luxury 2011 Ford Shelby GT500

New 2012 Chevrolet Aveo Sedan and Hatchback

What you see here are official design patent drawings of the all-new 2012 Chevrolet Aveo four-door sedan and five-door hatchback models, filed by General Motors. The next generation of GM's Ford Fiesta rival was teased in concept form with the sporty Aveo RS hatchback study at 2010 Detroit Auto Show in January while shortly after we also got a sneak peak of the sedan variant through some leaked illustrations.

The drawings of the five-door model suggest that the production version follows pretty closely to the RS concept minus of course some snazzy details like the shaved door handles, big alloy wheels and the more pronounced side sills that made the concept model really stand out.

However, the hatchback does keep the concept study's hidden rear door handles that are concealed in the C-pillars. The sedan, on the other hand, gets a more conventional design.

We're likely to see the production versions of both the sedan and hatchback Aveo making their official debut by the end of this year's auto show season, possibly even at the Paris show in September, with sales following in 2011.

Post Title → New 2012 Chevrolet Aveo Sedan and Hatchback

Luxury 2011 Citroen C4

Following on from yesterday's release of the first photos of Citroën's new C4 compact hatchback, we just got our hands on a short static film as well as details on the engine range that will be available at launch.

When it goes on sale across Europe after its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show, the French firm's Golf-rival will be offered with a total of three petrol (plus one LPG capable) and three diesel engines.

The gasoline range includes a 95HP 1.4-liter unit coupled to a five-speed manual, a 120HP 1.6-liter available with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic, an LPG capable version of the 1.6L unit, and finally a 1.6-liter turbo with 155HP that's hooked up to a 6-speed semi-automatic gearbox.

Diesel fans can choose between a 1.6-liter HDi producing 90HP or 105HP (both linked to a manual gearbox), and a 2.0L HDi with 150HP coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission.

Furthermore, the two 1.6-liter HDi units are available in e-HDi versions that come with a semi-automatic 6-speed transmission and Citroën's new pseudo micro-hybrid system that features the latest generation Stop & Start system.

Output remains the same on the two e-HDi variants but fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are improved over the standard HDi models.

Post Title → Luxury 2011 Citroen C4

New Buick Excelle GT Buick Excelle GT

Shanghai GM, a joint venture between General Motors Corp and China's SAIC Motor Corp, has revealed the all-new 2011 Buick Excelle GT compact sedan that will go on sale in the country on June 23. It will be available in China with a choice of two petrol engines, a naturally-aspirated 1.8-liter with 108kW/145HP and a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-pot churning out 135kW/181HP.

The GT model expands Buick China's Excelle range that already includes the five-door hatchback XT model. And in case you didn't notice, both the Excelle XT and GT are based on the latest generation of the Opel Astra and share the same Delta II platform and mechanical hardware as the Chevrolet Cruze.

As we have already told you in previous reports, the four-door Excelle GT will be coming to Buick stores here in the States sometime next year, most likely with a different name but without any significant cosmetic changes.

Buick's new entry-level model will slot under the new Regal in the firm's U.S. range with the Volkswagen Jetta considered one of its closest rivals.

Post Title → New Buick Excelle GT Buick Excelle GT

Luxury Hyundai i20 STC 3-Door Version Photos Leaked Ahead of Geneva

We were supposed to see the three-door Hyundai i20 for the first time at the Geneva Auto Show, but no thanks to an online leak, we now have official photos of the newest version of the Korean supermini. Besides the fact that the 3-door i20 is less practical than its five-door sibling and that it features restyled rear-quarter windows, there are no other visible differences between the two models.

Same goes for the engine range that will consists of a total of seven gasoline and diesel units. The i20's gasoline range includes a 78PS 1.2-liter, a 100PS 1.4-liter and a 126PS 1.6-liter engine, all of which are mated to five-speed manual gearboxes. The 1.4- and 1.6-liter models can be equipped optionally with a four-speed automatic transmission.

The diesel line-up comprises of a 1.4-liter unit available in two guises with outputs of 75PS and 90PS, and a 1.6-liter motor with 115PS and 128PS. Both 1.4-liter diesel models are equipped with a five-speed stick shift, while the flagship 1.6-liter modes are offered with a six-gear manual gearbox.

Photos via: Telegraaf

Post Title → Luxury Hyundai i20 STC 3-Door Version Photos Leaked Ahead of Geneva

Super Exclusive Hyundai i20

The new five-door i20 will go on sale in the UK on January 15, with the first three-door i20s arriving in April, but Hyundai decided to announce full pricing for its Getz replacement model. When the i20 goes on sale in the new year, the entry level 1.2-litre Classic will start at £8,195 for the three-door with a five door costing an extra £450. All i20s will be equipped with air-conditioning, six airbags, active head restraints, remote locking, electric front windows and an aux-in socket as standard.

The mid-range Comfort model, which Hyundai expects to be the best seller, starts from £8,995 and adds 15-inch alloy wheels, body colour door mirrors and handles, electric rear windows, full iPod integration, steering wheel mounted audio controls, a trip computer and a six-speaker system. The flagship model of the i20 range is the Style and it comes with 16-inch alloys, climate control, part-leather upholstery, metal-look facia and front fog lights.

The i20 will be available with two new petrol and diesel engines, including a 78HP 1.2-litre 'Kappa' petrol and 100HP 1.4-litre petrol borrowed from the i30 and the 1.4-litre capacity diesel unit offered in two version with outputs of 75HP and 90HP.

Post Title → Super Exclusive Hyundai i20

Luxury Hyundai i20 Perked Up

The European market Hyundai i20 has received some minor improvements under the hood as well as to the aerodynamics and the interior of the car. Hyundai started by adding a small spoiler to the underneath of the vehicle to improve airflow around the wheels, while all i20s now use low friction engine oil and an alternator management system.

These changes help the best-selling 1.2-litre petrol engine reduce its CO2 emissions by 5g/km to 119g/km, while the 1.4-liter petrol model sees a 13g/km drop to 129g/km as well as a 4.3mpg UK improvement in fuel consumption.

As for the diesel engines, CO2 emissions on the 75HP model drop by 6g/km to 110g/km. Thanks to the introduction of a new 6-speed gearbox, the 90HP version achieves a 7.2% improvement in fuel economy.

Hyundai also made a few minor changes to the interior. Along with the addition of an 'Eco Drive' indicator that suggests the best time to change gear, the dashboard and instrument illumination is now blue instead of red, while Bluetooth phone connectivity with voice recognition is now added as standard on all models except the entry-level Classic.

The South Korean supermini is available to order now, with prices in the UK starting from £9,520.

Post Title → Luxury Hyundai i20 Perked Up