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Around this time we get a flood of Car of the Year for every automotive website, magazine and publication. Some have chosen obvious cars as winners, some go for the more interesting cars. This year, Auto Express UK has chose the new Ford Mondeo to be their Car of the Year. Britain's higest selling weekly motor magazine chose the Mondeo as the best family car and the best estate car aswell. Editor in chief, David Johns hailed the Ford as "The new Mondeo is Ford's finest ever car,". He also stated the not just the saloon, but the hatchback and estate models also deserved the award being "been designed and engineered to the highest standards". This will surely boost the very popular Ford top seller across Britain and help Ford with their financial worries with large debts, after needing to sell of Land Rover and Jaguar this year. PRESS RELEASE: NEW FORD MONDEO NAMED CAR OF THE YEAR TROUBLED car giant Ford has been g...

With more than 5000 Lexus IS cars on the road, Lexus Australia has decided to treat us with their limited edition Lexus IS 250X. The IS 250X will feature a limited set of five-spoke, 18" alloy wheels, "X" badging and with a one-off Vermilion and Onyx pain job. They will also be matched with a black interior. The Lexus IS 250X will be priced at $64,390 AUD for the standard manual model and will only be available to 260 lucky owners. Source: Lexus Australia

With many previous pictures of the upcoming GranTurismo, Maserati have finally released new pictures. Maserati GranTurismo is expected to be released at the end of the year. • Engine 4244 cc 90° V8 • Power 405 PS (399 hp/298 kW) at 7100 rpm • Torque 460 N·m (339 ft·lbf) at 4750 rpm • Top speed 285 km/h (177 mph)[2] • Acceleration 0-62 mph 5.2 seconds • Acceleration 0-400 m 13.4 seconds • Acceleration 0-1000 m 23.9 seconds Source: Maserati

Inline 6 Cylinder Engines could soon be a thing of a past if Ford's decision to cut them by 2010 is any indication. Citing economical and environmental issues, Ford has decided to invest heavily into the new Duratec V6 engines. According to Ford, the main concern behind the decision is the added pressure to produce a more environmentally friendly engine and due to the added increases of petrol prices. As a result of this, Ford Australia has cut 600 jobs at their Geelong engine plant. Ford Announces New Engine Direction Ford Australia today announced a key step in a new product manufacturing strategy that will allow the company to achieve production efficiencies and access global economies of scale. From 2010 Ford Australia will import a global new Duratec V6 engine, including high performance derivatives, for use in the company's locally made Falcon, Falcon Ute and Territory model lines. The improved economies of scale resulting from...

Lex has published its top 20 used cars list which reveals the models that are going to be worth the most in the second hand market. In 2007 not surprisingly those new models that are in current short supply have the best future residual value. Top of the used car pile is the MINI, continuing where it left off in 2006. Lex reckons that Cowley’s finest will be worth 54% of its original cost new price based on a typical three year/60,000 mile contract. In the second and third place are the stylish TT and A5, which together with the A3, Q7 and Cabriolet put more Audis in the Lex list than any other car maker. Surprisingly the Lex list shows the anti-4x4 lobby has not hit residual value predictions, with no less than seven in the top 20, including the new Land Rover Freelander, Honda CRV and Mercedes M Class. Bread and butter fleet cars have struggled to get anywhere near the top 20, but the nearest are the Audi A3 (7th) and the BMW 3 series (18th) which between them enjoy strong ...

The Chrysler Group today announced pricing for the all-new 2008 Jeep(R) Liberty. Completely redesigned from the ground up, the mid-size SUV features classic Jeep exterior styling paired with a functional interior, increased cargo length and rear Seat legroom, and the industry-exclusive Sky Slider(TM) full-length, open- canvas roof. The base manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the all-new Jeep Liberty is $20,990, including $660 destination. Two models are available: Jeep Liberty Sport and Jeep Liberty Limited. The Jeep Liberty will begin to arrive in dealerships later this summer. "The 2008 Jeep Liberty offers more value than ever before starting at under $21,000 for 4x2 models and under $23,000 for 4x4 models," said John Plecha, Director - Jeep Brand Marketing and Global Communications, Chrysler Group. "We've reduced the MSRP by an average of $1,000 and added approximately $1,400 in features and content to both models. And, the Jeep Liber...

Subaru announced pricing on the all-new Subaru Impreza 2.5i and its performance icon cousin, the Impreza WRX arriving in dealer showrooms beginning in August. The 2008 Subaru Impreza starts at $16,995 and the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX starts at just $24,350. "The all-new Subaru Impreza delivers the best combination of driving performance, safety and fun in its class," said Tim Colbeck, vice president of sales, Subaru of America, Inc. "The 2008 Impreza really sets a new standard for value in its segment." With new, more sophisticated styling and two new body styles, a 4-door sedan and a 5-door model, the Impreza 2.5i and Impreza WRX breathe new life into the compact performance market. The new Impreza models deliver significant improvements in comfort and utility, while delivering the handling, performance and Subaru Symmetrical AWD that made the original Impreza such a success. Also new for 2008, is the availability of Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) on both t...

Gearing up for its August retail launch, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is taking its long-awaited, new-generation C-Class sedan on the road to allow some 30,000 potential buyers to get an advance preview of the new vehicle and put it through its paces. The ride- and-drive event, called The C Drive, goes well beyond the traditional driving event by literally bringing the vehicle to the streets where buyers live. The C Drive is the hands-on element of a multi-faceted integrated marketing initiative -- the largest in the company's history -- which has been underway for several months now in anticipation of the debut of the newest generation of its best-selling model line, the C-Class. According to Steve Cannon, vice president of marketing for MBUSA, "The C-Class is literally the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand. We have among the strongest aspiration of any automaker, and this is the vehicle that allows new customers and younger buyers to fulfill that aspiration to own a Mercedes...

Complementing a top five star Euro NCAP crash test rating, Ford’s Galaxy has received yet more praise for its safety credentials. In the recently-published Which? Car 2007/2008 magazine, the consumer champions named Ford's full-size MPV as the joint winner of their annual Safety Award. Praising the seven seater, Which? Car said: “The Galaxy is one of the safest cars we’ve assessed this year.” Tough, practical, good to drive and comprehensively specified, Ford’s flagship MPV benefits from an array of advanced active and passive safety kit. Which? Car particularly noted the Galaxy’s side curtain airbags, knee airbag and reactive head restraints designed to minimise whiplash injuries. ESP is also fitted to all models. With the school holiday period seeing more families on the move than usual, the Galaxy’s acclaimed safety standards provide added reassurance for buyers this summer. And while occupant protection is top of the agenda, the thoughtfully designed cabin provides a first-c...

The new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster combines high-tech from motor racing and the power of a top high-performance sports car with the long-distance attributes and sophisticated atmosphere of a classic Gran Tourismo car. In common with Formula 1 vehicles of today, it too is made of carbon fibre, a material that endows the vehicle with a very high degree of safety as well as extreme torsional stiffness at the same high level as the coupé. In combination with the racing-type chassis this gives rise to outstanding ride characteristics. The maximum speed of the new high-performance sports car, which is powered by an AMG V8 compressor engine delivering 460 kW/626 hp, is 332 km/h and therefore at the same high level as the Coupé. Although the Roadster offers undiluted open-top driving pleasure in the highest performance class thanks to its fully retractable top, the occupants in no way lose out in terms of comfort or the vehicle's suitability for everyday use. Consequently, the new ...

Presenting the new Porsche 911 GT2 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is proudly launching the most powerful 911 so far homologated for road use. Through its striking design with large air intakes at the front and the rear wing so characteristic of this very special model, the new Porsche 911 GT2 expresses the power and performance potential of the fastest-ever 911 right from the start even at a standstill. Available exclusively with rear-wheel drive and a manual six-speed gearbox, this high-performance athlete accelerates to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 329 km/h (204 mph) on average fuel consumption of just 12.5 litres/100 km (equal to 22.6 mpg imp) in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), thus offering a level of fuel economy regarded as quite impossible in this performance class just a few years ago. The power unit of the new Porsche 911 GT2 is based on the six-cylinder boxer engine of the 911 Turbo, with air supply by tw...

Sportier appearance and better handling: KW coilover suspension V3 for Opel GT * Racing-technology for the road * Customised lowering of suspension up to 45 mm * Coilover suspensions produced in stainless steel "inox-line" technology "Only flying is more beautiful" was the old commercial slogan in the late 1960s, when the first Opel GT was presented to the public. In terms of driving dynamics there are worlds between the new generation of the Opel GT and its predecessor. And there are even more between them, if you use a KW coilover suspension V3. With it one can lower the car in a range from 20 to 40 mm at the front axle and from 20 to 45 mm at the rear. The KW coilover suspension V3 for the Opel GT is available with immediate effect. KW coilover suspensions - 3 damping variants for every type of driver Coilover suspension V1 with preset damper setting permits customised lowering of the suspension and creates an optimised balance of sportiness, comfort and safety. ...

An open roof sportscar in a tailor-made suit: The Abt TT Roadster Before the first preliminary designs were published, it was clear that the leading Audi tuner Abt Sportsline planned to cause a sensation with the new Audi TT , as the first TT is one of the favourite cars of the Kempten-based company with a long tradition. And this is due to the fact that the race version of the Sports Coupe 2002 won a lot of DTM (German Touring Car Series) races. Therefore it is only logical that, after the extravagant TT-Sport and TT-R , also the TT Roadster, which is already exquisitely beautiful as serial car, gets a special treatment in the Allgaeu: the designer from Abt Sportsline developed car body parts with which the open-roof TT becomes more danymical. Thus, the front skirt with its grid element emphasizes the area around the fog lights and the single-frame grill. The brawny laterally attached parts underline the design of the convertible and create a unit with the striking rear section of ...

Subaru is making a hatchback for 2008 so I designed my own Impreza STI 2008 model.

This whole green thing might be catching on. Exhibit A: a 911 -based GTStreet from Techart . Yes, it's another German tuning firm doing the modding thing on another supercar. But look at the sheer greenness of it all. It really is very, very green. And in spite of ourselves, we think we like it. Techart claims it started 'with a blank sheet of paper' when it created the GTStreet. Which isn't strictly true. It actually started with a 911 Turbo . But the GTStreet gets a full bodykit with retractable carbon-fibre splitter, as well as a range of new and intriguing air inlets. Techart has fiddled under the bonnet too, extracted another 150bhp from the Turbo's 3.6-litre flat six. That raises overall power to a scary 630bhp, while torque is up to 501lb ft. That knocks half a second off the Turbo's 0-60mph, which now comes up in just 3.2 seconds. There's a fat new set of brakes as well, but all we can focus on is the hypnotic luridness of the paintjob. If only we...

Aston Martin Launches the V8 Vantage Roadster Los Angeles - Aston Martin will unveil one of the most eagerly anticipated convertibles of the year when the V8 Vantage Roadster is revealed at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show on Wednesday 29th November. Aston Martin Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez said: “The V8 Vantage Roadster is a pure sports car, a car that heightens the senses and provides a dynamically thrilling driving experience. “The Vantage Roadster adds to the unbeatable thrill of open air motoring and by combining engineering excellence, technological innovation and physical perfection, will ensure every journey is one to remember.” Perfectly proportioned, with a low purposeful stance, the Vantage Roadster is uncompromisingly modern yet also incorporates classic Aston Martin design cues. The elegant lines are fused with traditional craftsmanship and striking 21st century style, with an interior hand-trimmed and finished in the finest quality genuine materials...

America does not have a happy relationship with restyling European cars. Look at the chunky bumpers inflicted on the Porsche 911 in the early 1970s or the weird front end dictated for the Jaguar XJS. However, we have to tip our hat to 1G Racing, which now owns the rights to the Noble M400. Taking its cues from the Noble M15, the 1G has a meaner, more race car-like look. 1G has changed the Noble's name to the Rossion Q1 and upped the power of its twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 to 450bhp. The extra oomph is welcome but doesn't alter performance as the Q1 is slightly heavier than the previous Noble M400. The Rossion Q1 costs from $69,000, though you need to fit the engine yourself to get round American legislation. Or you can go for a complete car that just needs a bit of tweaking to get it working for $90,700. With the pound looking so rosy against the dollar, this is one export we'll happily allow back into the country.

Paulin Motor Company launches innovative concept vehicle Paulin Motor Company , founded by well-knowned designer Daniel Paulin launches its first vehicle. This concept car aims to demonstrate Paulins vision of future design directions aiming for the market requirements of 2012 and further. Daniel Paulin have a background as designer at Ford Motor Company where he among other projects where responsible for the exterior design for the 2004 Ford Focus concept car, the exterior Ford Focus C-Max 2003 and also designer for the FAB1, Thunderbirds the movie. - I have studied the development of the last decennium and believe this is a logical development where I have tried to create shapes where controlled sculptural surfaces meets dynamic graphical break-ups, says Daniel Paulin, CEO and Creative Director of Paulin Motor Company. Paulin Motor Company has used Opticore visualization solutions to produce images and real-time presentation environments. - Opticore Real Time Ray Tracing has helped...

Back when Top Gear was young and impressionable, we thought a coachbuilder was a mutant amalgamation of a football coach and a bodybuilder - a steroid-pumped, whistle-blowing, press-up dictating maniac. And, on the evidence of the coachbuilt Castagna Aznom , we weren't too far off the truth. This snarling lump of supercar is the product of Italian firm Castagna Milano, and it's the scariest thing to come out of Italy since Caligula. (Always on the ball with topical references, us.) Coachbuilding, of course, is the art of sticking a new body on an existing chassis, and the frame that underpines the Aznom is that of the Corvette Z06. However, Castagna has bolted a carbon fibre/aluminium frame on top, taking styling cues off the 'Vettes of the 50s and 60s to create a deep-vented, mad-grilled schoolboy fantasy. A retracting rear wing, F430-esque rear diffuser and fat 20-inch alloys give the Aznom plenty of intent, but we're not so keen on those stuck-on wing mirrors. The...

With a starting U.S. MSRP of $36,400 (including $730 destination), the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country Limited sets the standard for luxury minivans. In addition to the standard equipment included on the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country Touring model, the Town & Country Limited also includes a new 4.0- liter V-6 engine that produces 251 hp (189 kW) and 259 lb.-ft. (350 N*m) of torque and is mated to a new, minivan-first six-speed transaxle; three-zone automatic temperature control; luxury front- and second-row floor mats; High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps; auto-dimming rearview mirror; power, foldaway, heated multifunction chrome mirrors with supplemental side signals and driver-side memory; ParkSense rear park assist system, MyGIG AM/FM/CD/DVD/HDD/MP3 Multimedia Entertainment system, ParkView rear back-up camera and SIRIUS satellite radio; remote start system; leather-trimmed first- and second-row seats with suede microfiber accents; security alarm; premium sound system wh...

Mercedes-Benz is celebrating the 10th birthday of its successful M-Class, the top-selling premium SUV with 850,000 units to its name. To mark the occasion, Mercedes-Benz is bringing out the attractive special “Edition 10” model. The specification includes 20-inch wheels, bi‑xenon headlamps and special bodywork highlights in titanium-look as well as dark-tinted tail lights. The sporty, refined interior features two-tone all-leather appointments, sports instruments and stainless steel sports pedals. The “Edition 10” can be ordered from autumn 2007. The “Edition 10” is a fitting tribute to mark the tenth anniversary of the most successful Mercedes-Benz premium SUV. It recalls the market launch of the M‑Class a decade ago, a vehicle now regarded as the pioneer of the premium SUV. Compared with the series-production models, the anniversary edition sporting the special “Edition 10” logos on the wings features even higher-grade appointments and is instantly recognisable from the exterior, cou...