Spyshots: Mercedes SLC
By Yoann Besnard on 22 June 2007 | 
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These are the first pictures of the future Mercedes coupe based on the platform of the next-generation SL roadster. Dubbed “SLC”, the car would be powered by the 6.2 litre V8 engine that equips all top of the range AMGs. With an ouput of more than 500 bhp in current models, the SLC would be able to compete with BMW and Audi. The latter is planning to release a high-power V10 R8 coupe later in the year.
See also : Mercedes
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Fiat comes back to Argentina... With Tata
By Yoann Besnard on 21 June 2007 | (0) Comments | Permalink
As many other companies, Fiat left Argentina in 2002 due to the economic crisis. After 5 years the Italian carmaker is back but this time it will share the risks with the Indian giant Tata. Together they will invest $80,000,000 to upgrade the factory Fiat owns there. They plan to build 25,000 Tata pick ups each year that will be sold under the Fiat label in Central America, South America and maybe in Europe. In January 2008, the factory will also start to produce the Fiat Sienna sedan again.
See also : Fiat
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18 green Mercedes for Frankfurt motorshow
By Yoann Besnard on 21 June 2007 | (0) Comments | Permalink
The German carmaker would reveal up to 18 new green models at the next Frankfurt motorshow according to Auto, Motor und Sport.
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Roewe builds 10,000th Chinese KV6
By Yoann Besnard on 21 June 2007 | (0) Comments | Permalink
The first awarded Chinese engine, the Roewe KV6, has been producced at 10,000 units since the end of January. For this occasion the Chinese invited the press at a party and announced it would produce 80,000 KV6 in its Bo Shan factory in 2007.
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The making of the former BMW 3-Series
By Yoann Besnard on 20 June 2007 | (0) Comments | Permalink
Everyday we can watch videos about future models or funny TV commercials. With this video we become an open-mouthed child.
See also : BMW
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Spyshots: BMW 1-Series convertible
By Yoann Besnard on 20 June 2007 | (0) Comments | Permalink
The launch date of the 1-Series Coupe barely announced, here are the first almost undisguised spyshots of the convertible.
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Volvo R reincarnates into R-Design
By Yoann Besnard on 20 June 2007 | (0) Comments | Permalink
Volvo announced the end of the “R” performance lineup in last April due to poor sales. Only 1098 S60R and 538 V70R were sold last year. Nevertheless Volvo also confirmed that sporty models would still be available but without the R label. It sounds that the R would reincarnate into an optional kit called R-Design.
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Spyshots: Lamborghini Gallardo V8?
By Yoann Besnard on 20 June 2007 | (0) Comments | Permalink
Here are the first spyshots of what could be a downsized version of the Gallardo according to the website World Car Fans. This cheaper Gallardo would get a V8 engine just like the Audi R8. On the spyshots, the main changes are a revised fascia and altered exhaust pipes.
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Golf GTI V W12 in motion
By Yoann Besnard on 20 June 2007 | (0) Comments | Permalink
Volkswagen revealed an astonishing Golf V GTI powered by a W12 one month ago. This Golf inherited its engine from the Phaeton at which engineers added two turbo. The potion produced 650 bhp at 6000 rpm. Unfortunately we only had pictures ... Until yesterday. There is now a video in which we can listen to the W12 at small speed. It is not like a circuit but it is still enjoyable.
See also : VW
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Lesson: how to build a W16
By Yoann Besnard on 19 June 2007 | (0) Comments | Permalink
We often talk about power, torque but sometimes watching this video is more impressive than all figures.
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Frank Stephenson, head of design at Alfa Romeo
By Yoann Besnard on 19 June 2007 | (0) Comments | Permalink
Frank Stephenson, who recently lost his job as head of design at Fiat, has been appointed for the same position at Alfa Romeo. He will replace Wolfgang Egger who joined Audi. Gossipmongers will say he was given the job because it was too expensive to fire him, but we prefer to think he had the job thanks to his talent.
See also : Alfa Romeo
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3000 USD Renault?
By Yoann Besnard on 19 June 2007 | (0) Comments | Permalink
According to the French newspaper Le Figaro, Renault is seriously considering building a 3,000 USD car that would be sold in India. The French carmaker is so serious about this business that it plans to open a new Technocentre (Renault's jargon for R&D department) in India. The newspaper also reveals that the car wouldn't be sold in Europe because it wouldn't meet the European safety requirements.
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Spyshots: undisguised RS6
By Yoann Besnard on 19 June 2007 | (0) Comments | Permalink
The last spyshots show an undisguised RS6 giving some clue concerning the body changes. Compared to the S6, the RS6 appears to lose the LED light strips on the front bumper in order to allow bigger air intakes. At the back, the RS6 replaces the dual exhaust pipes by a single one and a larger diffuser.
See also : Audi
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Mazda 6 at Frankfurt
By Yoann Besnard on 19 June 2007 | (1) Comments | Permalink
Some of us expected it for the Chicago motorshow but the Mazda 6 successor will be revealed at the next Frankfurt motorshow in September. With the new model, Mazda will pursue its strategy: make zoom zoom cars. But following the example of Alfa Romeo with its 159, the next Mazda 6 should be more upmarket thanks to its new platform CD3 2 that is bigger than the current one according to insiders.
See also : Mazda
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Tom Gale joins Cerberus
By Yoann Besnard on 19 June 2007 | (1) Comments | Permalink
Tom Gale joins Cerberus advisory team. It's a big news for Chrysler. Indeed Tom Gale is amongst the key men responsible for the Chrysler rebirth at the end of the eighties and in the nineties.
Born in Flint in 1943, he studied industrial design at Michigan State University before joining Chrysler in 1967, not as a designer but as an engineer. He built up his reputation when he was sent to Mitsubishi at the beginning at the eighties. There he designed the Mitsubishi 3000GT/Dodge Stealth and the Plymouth Laser/Eagel Talon/Mitsubishi Eclipse. In 1985, he took over from Don Delarossa as head of design. He persuaded Lee Lacocca to raise the status pf design at the same level of the other departments.
See also : Daimler Chrysler
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