BYD T6: Chinese Maker Readying Porsche Cayenne SUV Clone with 2.0-Liter Engine!

In any other case, we'd have a hard time believing it, but when you're talking about Chinese automakers of the likes of BYD Auto that has a history of cloning other vehicles such as the Lexus RX-lookalike "S6 SUV" and the Toyota Aygo-esque "F0 minicar", everything is possible, even the creation of a Porsche Cayenne SUV knockoff. The above image of the Porsche Cayenne featuring a photoshoped BYD Auto grille circulated in numerous Chinese sites, but we managed to pinpoint the original scan on a Chinese forum.

We're not entirely sure if the photo is from an official brochure as suggested since there's a possibility that it could be sourced from a car magazine. Either way, while we have no knowledge of the Chinese language, we're presuming that the closing sentences in the article mean that BYD Auto's T6 Cayenne knockoff is planned to be introduced in September 2010 and that it will be equipped with a 2.0-liter engine.

BYD Auto isn't the only Chinese firm that has adopted vehicle cloning as an accepted development strategy. As we saw once again at last month's Shanghai Auto Show, many automakers from China follow this method to create new cars like the Landwind X8 - Mitsubishi Outlander, Great Wall Florid - Scion xA, Lifan 320 - MINI Cooper, Yema SQJ6451 - Subaru Forester and Geely GE - Rolls Royce Phantom.

We'll keep a close eye on the "BYD T6" Cayenne story and if (or when) we find something new, we'll post it up immediately.

Via: Le Blog Auto , Photo: Club BYD Auto

2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS Sports Sedan Spied Inside and Out: 20 High Res Photos

These are the best photos yet of Mercedes-Benz's second-generation CLS four-door coupe that will most likely make its world debut at next year's Paris Auto Show with the first examples expected to hit showrooms by early 2011. Our spy photographers managed to come up close to a prototype model in Germany scooping the very first pictures of the 2011 CLS' dashboard that uses much of the styling cues established by the new C and E-Class models becoming more angular with sharper creases.

In fact, the upper part of the center console looks like it came straight from Merc's executive saloon featuring the same exact rectangular hood for its central display.

Of course that comes to no surprise as the new CLS is closely related to the latest iteration of the E-Class sharing the same platform and mechanical hardware, which means a similar line-up of direct injection petrol and turbo diesel engines hooked up to Mercedes' seven-speed automatic transmissions.

Initially, the new CLS will be available with three petrol and one diesel engine. These include a 3.5-liter V6 with 292HP, a 5.5-liter V8 with 388HP and a 525HP 6.2-liter V8 for the range-topping AMG model, and the latest version of Merc's 3.0-liter V6 turbo diesel producing 231HP.

Furthermore, according to Carscoop sources, a hybrid version of the new CLS will definitely be in the mix. It will be equipped with the same drivetrain as the recently revealed S400 Hybrid that combines a 3.5-liter V6 petrol engine developing 279HP with a 20HP electric motor that's installed in the torque converter housing between the engine and the 7-speed automatic transmission. This particular hybrid system generates a total output of 299HP and a combined peak torque figure of 385 Nm or 283-lbs/ft.

As far as the exterior design is concerned, even though Mercedes has covered the prototype's sides and ends with more plastic cladding than a bondage club, it is evident that the overall shape of the sports saloon won't stray too far away from the current model, retaining the same characteristic low-roofed four-door profile of today's CLS.

However, expect to see some of the new E-Class' edgy design treats pass into the design of the front and rear ends and quite possibly, the shape of the rear wheel arch and the crease below the window line.

Bertone Could Produce Up to 10 Examples of ZR1-Based Mantide Priced at $2 Million a Piece

Many may find the Bertone Mantide's design controversial, to say the least, but there's no doubt that every rare supercar has its place in the world of automotive collectors. So it comes to no surprise that according to Bertone's chief designer and the man at fault responsible for the Mantide's styling, Jason Castriota, the Italian firm could produce as many as 10 units of the Corvette ZR1-based sportscar.

"The project has an anonymous benefactor, but it is in fact for sale either as a singular example, or with the possibility of building an extremely limited series," Castriota told the NY Times in an e-mail message. "At the moment there is considerable interest around the world as we have been contacted by potential clients in Asia, Europe and America," he added.

Despite its relatively humble underpinnings - humble in the sense that a Corvette ZR1 will set you back a 'mere' $104,920 or about €79,000, the Mantide's price will hover close to a staggering $2,000,000 or around €1,500,000. Like it or not, we have no doubt that there's a handful of people out there who will be more than willing to pay such a high price to own a supercar like the Mantide.

Via: NY Times

Lamborghini Countach Homage: A Raw Definition of Italian Supercars

Every boy and every man of certain age (and taste....) had a poster of it hanging on his bedroom wall at some point of his life. Yes, I'm talking about the ultimate exotic supercar of the mid-to-late 1970's and 1980s, the Lamborghini Countach. If there was ever a model that epitomizes the values of Ferruccio Lamborghini's brand, then this is it. Even today, 35 years after its release, it's threatening yet indisputably erotic hard-edge styling and imposing scissor-like doors make many modern supercars look like they were penned by gangly men with turtlenecks and hair pieces.

The Lamborghini Countach was a hardcore supercar, a 'raging bull' designed and engineered to be driven by real men and it had no problem whatsoever showing it.

I remember the first time I ever saw a Countach up close as if it happened yesterday. It was in Melbourne in the beginning of the 80's when a car dealer in the neighborhood that specialized in Italian vehicles brought a black example of the Countach. I've seen many supercars of all sorts since then, but none has ever made a bigger impression on this lad than the Countach.

Like the Miura it replaced, the Countach was designed by the magic hands of Marcello Gandini who was then working for Bertone.

Three years after the introduction of the prototype model at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini launched the production model dubbed LP400 that was powered by a longitudinally mounted 375HP 4.0-liter V12 (hence the LP name - Longitudinale Posteriore).

Until its demise in 1990 when it was replaced by the Diablo, Lamborghini constantly developed the Countach presenting newer and more powerful versions with the last being the "25th Anniversary".

Named to honor the company's 25 year anniversary, it was produced from 1988 to 1990 and it featured some 500 changes and improvements over the 5000QV including the unpopular to many, front and side spoilers and modified air vents that brought to mind Ferrari's Testarossa.

The last Countach was powered by a 5.2-liter version of the V12 engine producing 455HP (80 horsepower more than the original model, that launched the supercar to a top speed of 295 km/h or 183mph.

Sure the Countach had many flaws including its overtly cramped cabin, zero practicality and its characteristically heavy controls (gearbox, clutch and steering wheel), but the fact that it remained in production as a top player in the supercar segment for 16 years is a feat few vehicles throughout history of cars can match.