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Italian
State Police receive new Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4
 Manganelli
heads up the Italian State Police and he just took delivery of
the latest police package special from the crew at Lamborghini.
This time around the Bolognese automaker added the decals and
lights to its new Gallardo LP560-4. Somehow the Lamborghini techs
have managed to integrate all the gear that modern police officers
regularly use into their diminutive supercar. The car is equipped
with a video recording system so officers can record evidence
and provide entertainment for the boys in blue back at the station
by transmitting it wirelessly in real time. More
info & Video
2010
Lexus RX coming to LA Auto Show
 The
Lexus RX is one of the most successful luxury crossovers of the
past decade, with sales doubling or even tripling that of its
competition. Remarkably, the RX has achieved its considerable
success without a major overhaul, but that will change when the
next gen RX is unveiled this November in LA. Details on the new
RX have been scarce to this point, but we can be sure that a hybrid
version will continue to be available and that a plug-in version
is a possibility. More
info & Pictures
Noble
M600 caught testing in the U.S.
 Noble
had flown over a prototype of its newest model – the M600 – for
a series of shakedowns in the western U.S. CAR was able to get
a shooter out to Arizona to capture the M600 undergoing testing,
using the same Yamaha-developed V8 found in the Volvo XC90. According
to CAR's sources, the V8 has been fitted with twin turbochargers
and output is estimated at somewhere north of 600 hp. More
info
Toyota
developing baby roadster based on iQ
 Toyota
worked up an entirely new platform for its new iQ minicar, which
features a very unique 3+1 seating arrangement in an effort to
outsmart its competitors. Such a development takes a good deal
of resources and Toyota seems to be considering ways to defray
that cost through additional models based on the same underpinnings.
More
info
Nissan
announced priced increased for 2009 Maxima
 Nissan
announced that the 2009 Maxima, launched last June, will cost
more due to increased raw materials costs. Effective immediately,
the price for the Maxima 3.5 S and Maxima 3.5 SV are $30,160 and
of $32,860 respectively. Both models are equipped with an advanced
3.5-liter V6 and CVT transmission. For the extra price, you will
also gain extra horsepower. For 2009, the VQ-series V6 engine
will deliver 290 hp and 261 lb-ft of torque (estimated), an increase
of 35 horsepower and 9 lb-ft of torque over the 2008 Maxima. More
info
204
hp lithium battery powered MINI E revealed!
 BMW
has finally unleashed some information and photos of the much
anticipated MINI E set to debut next month at the LA Auto Show.
For those who haven't been paying attention, late last spring
BMW announced plans to build and lease a fleet of 500 battery
powered MINIs starting sometime in 2009. The front wheels of the
MINI E receive torque through a single speed gearbox from a 204
hp, 162 lb-ft electric motor. Those numbers are rather unusual
for an electric drive system which usually has much more torque.
Nonetheless, the MINI E can hustle to 62 mph in 8.5 seconds and,
according to BMW. More
info & Pictures
Mercedes-Benz
E-class coupe
 The
crew from CAR laid out what the future holds for Mercedes' two-door
offerings and now its tapped Larson to render what the forthcoming
E-class coupe will look like ahead of its debut at the Geneva
Motor Show next year. Engine choices will range from 184 hp four-cylinders
(E200k) to an E63 AMG variant putting down 481 hp, while a 525
hp Black Series version will be offered further down the line.
Seven-speed automatics will proliferate throughout the range,
along with direct injection on all gasoline-powered models. More
info
Cadillac
prices 2009 CTS-V from $59,995
 The
Cadillac CTS-V has already proven that its impressive power stats
translate nicely to the track with sub-8 minute 'Ring times and
a 0-60 time of 3.9 seconds. The General is also positioning its
new 556-hp halo sedan as a performance bargain, having announced
today that it will go on sale around November 1 with a starting
price of just $59,995. That's more than $40,000 cheaper than the
less powerful XLR-V, and we'd argue the CTS-V is more attractive
with its v2.0 Art and Science styling. More
info
Confirmed:
This is the 2010 Toyota Prius
 Toyota
has confirmed publicly on its Open Road Blog that these shots
are indeed the 2010 Prius. Toyota PR reportedly confirmed to the
website that what we're looking at is the same car that will be
revealed in January at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Mechanically
speaking, the new Prius is expected to arrive with a more powerful
gas engine, bigger electric motor and, despite continuing to use
nickel-metal hydride rather than lithium-ion batteries, improved
fuel efficiency. It is the Prius after all. More
info
Mercedes
GLK by Brabus
 BRABUS
tunes all manner of Mercedes-Benzes, and even branches out by
pumping performance into diminutive smart cars that have very
little business going fast. Likewise, BRABUS also tunes Mercedes
SUVs that usually have no business bragging about their performance,
and there's a new Merc ute on the scene that has yet to get the
German tuning firm's treatment... until now. BRABUS has just released
details on its new Exclusive Program for the Mercedes-Benz GLK
that allows owners to tune the new soft-roader to their heart's
content. More
info & Pictures
Mazda
set to expand range
 According
to president and CEO James Muir, the company would like to go
a bit upmarket, attracting buyers looking for an aspirational
brand. We're okay with that as long as Mazda's don't lose their
sporty edge in the process. To make the transition, the automaker
is looking to offer more variations of models already in its line
and to add a few new ones...Also present and accounted for is
the rumor that just won't die: a new RX-. We'd expect the new
RX to be a bit more than just an RX-8 with its rear doors lopped
off, as the 7 has always been Mazda's top performer. More
info
Dodge
bringing Viper-powered Challenger SRT10 Concept
 Meet
the Challenger SRT10 Concept, which sports an 8.4L V10 engine
graciously donated by a Viper SRT10. As well as what happens when
you attempt to transfer the engine's 600 horsepower and 560 lb-ft
of torque to the ground through the Challenger's rear tires. Needless
to say, enough tire smoke is produced to affect the weather in
China. Other mods include a functional carbon fiber shaker hood
that feeds air to the voluminous V10, a carbon fiber front splitter
and rear deck lid, a new rear spoiler More
info
McLaren
P11 already caught on the road
 Expected
to show up in production trim about 18 months from now, the P11
will certainly be a tough secret for McLaren to keep. The P11
is one of the most highly anticipated sequels in automotive history,
so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that spy shots of running
prototypes have already surfaced. This time it's Auto Express
publishing a few pics of the car in the wild. Heavily camo'd,
the car was spotted near the McLaren F1 shop in Woking, Surrey.
Even in disguise you can see that the car looks like it will be
as trim More
info
Lexus
IS 250 Sports Concept
 Lexus
unveiled a new version of its IS 250 sports sedan called the Sports
Concept. So what, you ask is the Lexus IS 250 Sports Concept?
Think of it as IS F-light, but not quite as light on substance
as appearance packages from its German rivals (think Audi S-line
or Mercedes AMG sport packages). The show car has been outfitted
with 19" wheels hiding cross-drilled two-piece rotors clamped
by six-pot calipers up front and four-pots in the rear, painted
trademark Lexus F blue. More
info & Pictures
Arash
reveals final form of AF10 supercar
 Small
independent exotic automakers abound, including names like Ascari,
Ultima, Noble, Farboud, Farbio and Arash, to name just a few.
Trying to keep track of them all is enough to make your head spin,
especially when the same guy is behind the latter three. After
selling off Farboud, the new owners changed the name to Farbio
and founder Arash Farboud started a new outfit under his first
name. What you see here are the first proper images of his latest
creation, the Arash AF10. More
info
Audi
R8 V10 and Spyder versions to be scarce and dear
 Well,
with V10, convertible and possibly diesel versions in the works,
we can't imagine that demand will subside anytime soon. You might
think that Audi would be smart to amp up production to handle
the high demand, especially with those new versions coming soon,
but that isn't gonna happen according to Audi. Seems they can
only make 27 R8s a month day and no more. That should keep the
R8 variations very scarce and very dear. For those lucky enough
to have the coinage and a place in line, there is more news. More
info
Lamborghini
reveals Estoque interior for first time
 At
this point, we've seen nearly every possible angle of Lamborghini's
latest raging bull, the Estoque, with one rather large exception:
the interior. As a four-door sedan, the compromises one naturally
expects from the Italian motor company's supercars are wholly
unacceptable in this application, so there is naturally a sense
of luxury inside the Estoque that's missing from the Gallardo
and Murcielago. We can also see large paddle shifters for the
e-gear transmission that are yanked straight from the Gallardo
and plenty of two-tone grey and creamy white leather covering
most every surface. More
info & Pictures
Bugatti
and Bentley join forces to battle Rolls-Royce
 The
whisperers have it that Bugatti may be borrowing from Bentley
for a new sedan. What they can't seem to pinpoint is exactly what
kind of sharing the two marques will be doing, and whether or
not the resulting super Bug will be a supremely high-powered four-door
to compete with the Rolls-Royce Phantom. If the two brands do
indeed share something, like the next Arnage's platform, for instance,
that might make sense. But just a few months ago, Bugatti said
that its next product would be even more expensive than the Veyron,
and lead man Josef Paefgen has also said that there will be no
inexpensive Bugatti. More
info
Gallardo
LP560-4 - CAR Magazine’s performance car of the year
 The
Gallardo Lp560-4 won the title of Performance Car of The Year
2008 in CAR magazine’s annual test. The Gallardo LP560-4 compete
with the Porsche 911 GT2, Aston Martin DBS and Mercedes-Benz CLK
Black Series. It then went on to win the overall competition against
finalists from seven other categories, including challengers such
as the Nissan GT-R, Mitsubishi Evo 360 and Mini John Cooper Works.
More
info & Pictures
Chevy
Camaro Z28
 A
talented designer who goes by Jinx on Camaro forums has created
some renderings of what a Camaro Z28 could look like. He envisions
a supercharged 6.2L LSA engine underhood with 550 horsepower.
That hood would need a power bulge to cover the supercharged mill,
and the rendering features a clear opening like the latest ZR1,
along with a carbon fiber splitter up front. More
info
Ford
releases full dash pic of 2010 Mustang
 Ford
is revealing the 2010 Mustang nice and slow. So far we've got
fairly clear shots of the wheel, seats, rear deck lid badge, front
end, and steering wheel. The latest photo to be released shows
a clear, full front view of the dash, and we have to say that
we like what we see. Like the new Pony badge, Ford has given the
interior an edgier look with rectangular center air vents and
more futuristic looking gauges. More
info
Alfa
Romeo Brera Ti
 The
Brera Ti picks up some of the improvements developed by British
rally and racing concern Prodrive (yes, that Prodrive, the ones
who field Aston Martin in Le Mans, Subaru in the WRC and brought
Honda back into F1). The Ti gets a stiffened suspension, 8C-style
19-inch anthracite alloys and Brembo brakes. More
info
Renault
Megane III
 The
Megane is Renault's bread and butter, competing in a dog-eat-dog
segment against the likes of Volkswagen's new Golf and the popular
European-spec Ford Focus. Diversity is part of Renault's plan
of attack, planning to offer six different Megane bodystyles,
each with its own distinct character. To start off, Renault launched
the five-door hatchback and the sleek new coupe on its home turf
here in Paris. More
info
2008
Paris Motor Show
 Day
1 of the 2008 Paris Motor Show is now officially over and below
you'll find our complete coverage of the most exciting concepts
and production vehicles that were unveiled. We're curious to know
which concept is your favorite and which production vehicles you
are most looking forward to. More
info & Pictures
Lamborghini
Estoque official details and images
 After
several weeks of teaser shots from Lamborghini we finally got
a full view of the Lamborghini Estoque concept this morning ahead
of its official debut tomorrow morning. However, the photos were
relatively small and details were scarce, but we are now able
to bring you high resolution photos and full details via a press
release from Lamborghini. The Estoque, named for the sword use
by the Matador in a bull fight, is actually listed as mid-engined
with the motor placed behind the front axle. More
info & Pictures
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