Video: 2009 Ford Focus RS vs First-Gen Focus RS

Car Magazine’s Chris Chilton had the opportunity to take the awesome first generation Focus RS for a quick spin along with the man who’s responsible for the development of both RS models, Ford Team RS chief, Jost Capito. The two then headed back to Ford’s studio to compare the Focus RS Mk1 with the new 300HP Focus RS that made its official debut at the British Motor Show earlier this month.

Capito says that the new Focus RS will probably be about half-a-minute faster than the old RS on the Nurburgring race track. While we didn’t find an official time for the Focus RS Mk1, we did discover that Sport Auto lapped the ‘Ring with the old RS in 9’05’’. However, we shouldn’t make any hasty conclusions as the new RS is still under development. You can read all the details and see our high-resolution image gallery on the 2009 Focus RS by clicking here or just follow the jump to see the video. -Continued

Via: Car Magazine

Video: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro in Action

You've already seen the pictures so it's time to check out Chevy's neo-retro pony car in action. The 2010 Camaro will be offered initially with a 300Hp 3.6-liter V6 and a 422Hp 6.2-liter LS3 V8 with sales expected to begin across the U.S. during the first quarter of 2009. Follow the jump for the available videos that include driving footage as well as beauty shots of the Camaro's interior and exterior. -Continued

Camaro Driving Footage

Interior and Exterior Beauty Shots

Vanity Fair Launches “Stick Shift - The Gay Car Blog”

As you might have noticed in our title, Vanity Fair’s new weekly auto column is a “blog for gay cars”. And while everyone may have his own opinion of what makes a car queer, here’s what Vanity Fair’s blogger Brett Berk believes: “A car’s gayness—like gayness in general -is based in its inhabiting the margins of conventionality. A Gay Car is quirkier, more enigmatic, or more fiercely accessorized than the average vehicle. It also likes to sleep with other Gay Cars.” If it weren’t for the last part, we would have sworn that VF’s blogger was talking about a Bangle designed BMW…

If you want our opinion, the whole “Gay Car” thing is as “gay” as when people attempt to give human-like attributes to an animal. A car is a car, a piece of machinery sometimes designed and built with love and passion, sometimes just for profit, other times for speed and handling, most of the times to transfer people from point A to point B. There’s nothing straight or gay about that.

Link: Vanity Fair

Limited Edition Daihatsu Terios “KIRI”

Daihatsu has revealed a limited-edition version of the Terios SUV called ‘Kiri’ that will be produced in 250 units for the UK market. Based on the Terios 1.5 S, the limited edition ‘Kiri’ adds a unique metallic green paint, roof rails, new five-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels wrapped around in 215/65 R16 tires, a hard spare wheel cover, leather-covered steering wheel, front fog lamps and special ‘Kiri’ graphics. On the road prices for the Terios “Kiri” start from £13,895. -Continued

Audi A5 Coupe Gets New 180Hp 2.0 TFSI in Place of 170Hp 1.8 TFSI

For those of you that have been closely monitoring the VW Group's moves in the powertrain department the past decade or so, it comes to no surprise that Audi decided to replace the A5 Coupe's entry level 170Hp 1.8 TFSI petrol engine with a new 180Hp 2.0 TFSI unit in less than a year after its introduction.

Derived from the 211Hp version of the turbo charged 2.0-litre, four-cylinder FSI engine introduced earlier this month, the A5 Coupe's new base 2.0 TFSI unit holds a 10Hp power advantage over the 1.8 TFSI, and delivers its peak output 800rpm earlier. Additionally, torque also increases by 70Nm to 320Nm, which is available from 1,500rpm to 3,900rpm. According to Audi, the A5 2.0 TFSI goes from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in 7.8 secs and on to a top speed of 238 km/h or 148mph. That's compared to the A5 1.8 TFSI's 8.4 secs and 230 km/h or 143mph. -Continued

Despite the power increase, fuel economy and emission figures have taken a step forward compared with the outgoing model with the A5 2.0 TFSI registering 6.6lt/100km (35.6 MPG US) in the combined cycle (a 0.8lt/100km improvement over the 1.8 TFSI) and emitting 154g/km of CO2 (9 percent reduction).

Buyer Picks Up First Production Corvette ZR1 after Paying $1Million

We can think of more than a million ways to spend $1 million other than buying the very first production 2009 Corvette ZR1, but at least Dave Ressler’s cash went to a good cause as the money was donated to The United Way. We remind you that Dave Ressler bought the 001 Corvette ZR1 at the 008 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction in January 2008. Production of the new Corvette ZR1 that began in early July 2008 is limited to 2,000 vehicles per year, each identified with a special VIN that denotes its sequential build number. -Video after the jump

VW’s Jetta Diesel Models Eligible for $1,300 Tax Credit

The Internal Revenue Service – IRS for short, has issued a certification letter affirming that Volkswagen’s new Jetta TDI diesel-powered Sedan and Sportwagen models qualify for the Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle income tax credit. Money-wise, that means that buyers of the specific vehicles are eligible for a $1,300 Federal Income Tax Credit. -Continued

“The $1,300 tax credit provides an even greater value to the upcoming Jetta TDI sedan and SportWagen,” said Mark Barnes, COO, Volkswagen of America. “Our clean diesel vehicles offer consumers the fuel efficiency that they’re looking for while providing power, utility, performance, safety and excellent value.” Now, if VW could only find a way to drop diesel prices in the U.S. to the same level as gasoline...

2009 BMW M3 Sedan Facelift - High Resolution Photos and Details

If you just bought a 2008 M3 Sedan, we’d advise you to stop reading this article immediately because we’re pretty sure that you won’t like what you’re about to hear and see. The Bavarian carmaker went ahead and facelifted its all-new M3 Sedan just a few months after the high-performance sports sedan made its market debut earlier this year. Like the recently facelifted 3-Series Sedan (see here) , the 2009 4door M3 receives a new set of tail-lights inspired from the new 7-Series along with a more pronounced trunk lid. Not a lot of changes, but it does look better than the 2008 M3 Sedan (images here).

Inside, refinements include a redesigned air grille in the center of the cockpit, a new armrest on the center console and new available trim options. As with all 2009 BMWs, the M3 Sedan also gets the new generation iDrive that includes a redesigned controller with direct-dial buttons on the center console and a high-resolution 8.8 inch display along with an updated navigation system. There are no mechanical changes with the 2009 M3 Sedan retaining the same 420Hp 4.0-liter V8 engine as before. -High resolution images after the jump

Fiat Raises Annual Production for 500 Minicar to 200,000 Units

For the second time in a few months, Fiat has hiked production of its ultra successful 500 minicar in order to meet increasing European demand. In a conference call with analysts, Fiat Group’s CEO Sergio Marchionne revealed that production of the 500 minicar at the company Tychy plant in Poland has been boosted to over 200,00 units a year. -Continued

Fiat’s initial plans in 2007 where to sell approximately 120,000 units this year, however high demand saw the Italian carmaker raise the target to 140,000 earlier this year. According to a report from Automotive News, between the 500’s July 2007 introduction and the end of June 2008, Fiat dealers have received 230,000 orders.

Via: ANE (Sub. Req.)

2009 BMW M5 & Μ6 Get New Mirrors & iDrive

For the 2009 model year, BMW is updating its V10-powered M5 Sedan / Touring and M6 Coupe / Cabriolet models with the introduction of the new generation iDrive that includes a redesigned controller with direct-dial buttons on the center console and a high-resolution 8.8 inch display. Furthermore, all four “M” models feature a new navigation system that allows a full-screen map display. BMW has also replaced the external mirrors on both the M5 and M6 models with new ones that feature an enlarged field of view. Finally, for the 2009 model year M5 and M6s, the Bavarian carmaker has added a new Carbon Black metallic color on the option list. –One more pic after the jump

Mercedes-Benz Offers Downloadable CLC-Class Race Game

Looking for a way to kill a few hours at the office or at home? Mercedes-Benz might have the answer as the German automaker is offering online browsers a chance to race its new CLC-Class coupe around the streets of a virtual London with a new downloadable game called “CLC Dream Test Drive”. The game was developed in conjunction with specialist agencies Team6 and Weapon7. Once you download the file –it’s a 105 MB zip file- and set it up, you can then customize a CLC 350 Sport and hit the road aiming to set the fastest time. -Continued

And if you’re fast enough, the top time recorded over the three summer months will be entered into a prize draw, with the overall winner receiving a real driving experience at Mercedes-Benz World, at Brooklands, Surrey. You can download the game from Mercedes-Benz’ site by clicking here - www.CLCdreamtestdrive.com

2009 Ford KA Leaked Ahead of Paris Debut

The first official image of Ford’s second generation KA citycar was leaked into the internet this morning. We’re still short on details but we gather it won’t take long before Ford lets outs official information on the KA’s long-awaited successor that’s scheduled to make its world debut at the Paris Show in early October. Our first take is that Ford’s designers did a pretty convincing job in hiding the new KA’s Fiat 500 underpinnings as the minicar looks remarkably distinct and different. -Continued

Ford of Europe’s engineers are also said to have reworked the Fiat 500’s chassis in order to maintain the previous KA’s reputation for fine handling. In terms of powerplants, the KA is expected to be powered by the same engine range as its Italian cousin. Though this has not been officially confirmed yet, the KA’s line-up is said to include an ST model equipped with the 500 Abarth’s 1.4-liter turbocharged unit. The new KA will be built alongside the 500 at Fiat’s Tychy plant in Poland.

Via: Cartibe (-Opening picture edited by CarScoop -)

Infiniti’s 4Door-Coupe Version of the Nissan GT-R

In its latest issue, Japan’s Car Top magazine features a scoop story on a new 4door-coupe model from Infiniti based on the Nissan GT-R. Citing inside sources, the Japanese magazine states that Infiniti’s four-door version of the Nissan sportscar would use a stretched version of the GT-R’s platform. Power would come from the same 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 while the Infiniti would also maintain the GT-R’s highly advanced AWD system and six-speed dual-clutch automated manual gearbox.

While we have no inside information whatsoever to support this story, we must admit that a 4door-coupe version of the Nissan GT-R from Infiniti sound like a pretty good idea as it could serve as the ultimate halo model for the Japanese marque in its quest to win buyers from other (European) luxury brands.

Thanks for the scans R.T!

Honda Reveals Details on Euro-Spec Jazz

Honda has released details on the European specification Jazz that will make its first European show appearance in Paris this October with sales following in early November. The European version of the Fit (see details here) will be offered with two new 4-cylinder petrol units, a 90 PS 1.2-litre and a 100 PS 1.4-litre i-VTEC.

Offering 90 PS compared to the 78 PS of its predecessor at a slightly higher 6,000 rpm and torque up from 110 to 114 Nm, the entry-level 1.2-litre engine that’s matted to a 5-speed manual gearbox offers a combined fuel economy of 5.1 l/100km (46.1 MPG US), down from 5.5 l/100km, while CO2 emissions are also improved, reduced from 129 to 120 g/km. -Continued

Compared to the 1.4-liter i-DSI unit in the outgoing Jazz that produced 83 PS and 119 Nm of torque, the new 1.4-litre i-VTEC engine develops 100 PS and 127 Nm of torque. As well as a 5-speed manual gearbox, the 1.4-litre engine can be teamed up with Honda's new 6-speed automated manual i-SHIFT transmission that replaces the previous CVT (continuously variable transmission).

Despite the power increase and the fact that the new Jazz is slightly larger than its predecessor, Honda says that combined fuel economy is now 5.3 l/100km (44.3 MPG US) for the 5-speed manual model (down from 5.8 l/100km) and an even better 5.1 l/100km when equipped with the i-SHIFT semi-automated manual transmission (5.9 l/100km for the previous 1.4-litre CVT). Accordingly, CO2 output drops to 124 and 120 g/km, respectively (down from 137 and 139 g/km).

Teen Obliterates Porsche Carrera GT During Prom Night

This wreck of a Porsche Carrera GT was snapped by a reader of our Jalopnik pals sitting on a truck cargo bed in an Atlanta-area parking lot. The driver of the truck that made a pit stop at the parking lot after bringing the car from Miami claimed the Carrera GT was destroyed by a teenage driver during prom night. Apparently some light headed dad thought that lending a powerful supercar like the Porsche Carrera GT to a teenage kid on prom night sounded like a really cool idea. We’ll leave the comments to you. -More photos after the jump





Via: Jalopnik

Blind Justice? Chinese Court Dismisses Fiat’s Claims Against Great Wall

Just a week after a Turin court banned Great Wall from importing the GWPeri into Europe on the basis that it closely resembled Fiat's Panda minicar, and a Chinese court in Hong Kong dismissed Fiat’s claims for infringement by the Chinese car maker. Reuters also reported that Fiat was ordered by the Shijiazhuang Intermediate People's Court to pay 8,800 yuan or about $1,300 in legal fees. As you can see in these pictures here, apparently justice is blind in China...

GM Cuts U.S. SAAB Warranty to Four-Years or 50,000 Miles

As part of its never-ending cost cutting scheme, General Motors announced to its dealers that it has reduced the warranty terms on all Saabs sold in the United States from five-years or 100,000 miles to four-years or 50,000 miles. Surprisingly, the reduced warranty is effective immediately. Luckily for Saab dealers, GM decided to continue to offer free scheduled maintenance for three-years or 36,000 miles on Saab vehicles in order to compete with other luxury brands.

Russian GAZ Starts Chrysler Sebring Based Siber Production

Following the production of a pilot series in spring 2008, the GAZ Group today launched the serial production of its new Volga Siber that is based on the previous-generation Dodge Stratus / Chrysler Sebring sedan. The Russian company's production facilities are capable of manufacturing up to 100,000 cars per year. The Siber will be available from September 1, 2008 in 12 Russian regions through the company's 68 dealers.

GAZ had acquired the rights to use the previous generation Sebring from the former DaimlerChrysler Group in 2006. Compared to its American sibling, the Siber features a redesigned exterior by British studio UltraMotive along with a stiffer suspension and increased ground clearance adapted to Russia's roads and harsh winter conditions. Power will be provided by two Chrysler gasoline engines, a 141Hp 2.0 litre and a 143Hp 2.4 litre unit. -Continued

Interestingly, Russian Federation Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited the car plant on the eve of production and took the new sedan on a test drive. "It takes off fast and they've increased the clearance. It will be fine for our roads,” said Putin. Guess there’s no need for any car magazines to test drive the Siber after Putin’s professional assessment…

2009 Hyundai Tuscon in the UK Gets Base 2WD Version

Hyundai has revised its UK market Tucson line-up for 2009 by including an all-new entry level 2WD model powered by a 139 bhp 2.0-liter gasoline engine. Priced from £14,695, the front-wheel-drive Tuscon 2.0 Comfort model comes equipped with standard air conditioning, auxiliary and USB audio connections, privacy glass, body-coloured bumpers and trim, electric windows all-round, front fog lights, roof rails, dual front and side airbags and 16-inch alloy wheels. Overall, the 2009 model year Tucsons can be distinguished by minor visual changes, such as a new-look radiator grille, new rear number plate surround and modified instrument cluster on all models.

Datsun XLink Concept: Compact 4Door-Coupe-Crossover Hybrid Study

In today's automotive world where cross segment models are more the norm rather than the exception, a compact sized car that combines elements from sedans, hatchbacks, coupes and SUVs sounds like a good idea. The problem with cross segment models is that most vehicles of this sort have messed up proportions. Luckily that's not the case with the Datsun XLink study that was developed at Nissan Yulon Design Center by Pforzheim University student Benjamin Nawka.

The German car design student's goal with the XLink was to interpret a possible re-introduction of Nissan's Datsun brand, with the first C-segment four-door coupe crossover. According to Benjamin's thesis, the XLink can seat four passengers, has a 380 liter trunk and is powered by a Two-Mode Diesel Hybrid. The car's design is inspired by aircraft -hence the front and rear winglets- and architecture. Another feature of the XLink is the height adjustable chassis that allows the driver to convert the car into a crossover with a touch of a button. -Continued

If it were to enter production today, Benjamin says that the Datsun XLink would compete against brands like Scion, Mini and Alfa Romeo. While we'd have to disagree with the re-introduction of the Datsun brand into the automotive scene, the XLink sounds like a pretty good idea overall. Maybe someone at Nissan should take a closer look at this concept.

Image Courtesy: Benjamin Nawka , Via: Carbodydesign