2010 Porsche 911 Carrera

The 2010 911 Carrera is a 2-door, 4-passenger luxury sports car, or convertible sports car, available in 4 trims, ranging from the Coupe to the S Cabriolet.

Upon introduction, the Coupe is equipped with a standard 3.6-liter, H6, 345-horsepower engine that achieves 18-mpg in the city and 25-mpg on the highway. The S Cabriolet is equipped with a standard 3.8-liter, H6, 385-horsepower engine that achieves 18-mpg in the city and 25-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard on both trims, and a 7-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional.

2011 BMW M3 Coupe Matte Edition

Back in 2010, the M3 was celebrating its 25th anniversary, which was a perfect opportunity for BMW to begin launching a bunch of special editions all over the world. China, for example, received the cool Tiger Edition, and since the Chinese market is flourishing, BMW has decided to throw them yet another special edition called the M3 Coupe Matte Edition.

Compared to a standard M3, the M3 Matte edition will be distinguished by two unique exterior paints: gunmetal gray and black. Both of these colors have been obtained by combining a metallic finish with a silky matte clear coat that allows for the special luxury gloss to glisten in the sun. Next to this, the special edition has also received new 19" black high-gloss alloy wheels, black chrome side air intakes and exhaust pipes, and red brake calipers.

The interior also get splashes of black and red in the black carbon fiber insertions and leather on the front and rear seats, and the door armrests. These are further decorated with red accent stitching.

In terms of power, the special edition M3 will still come packing its usual 4.0L V8 engine producing 414 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque. This engine is mated to the M3’s six-speed manual transmission with a seven-speed dual-clutch automated-manual transmission (M DCT)as an option

First details on Ferrari’s next 599

Despite what many people have said about the Ferrari FF, a lot of people have taken a liking to the sports car. So much so, in fact, that it has already been sold out for 2011. If rumors circulating the 599 successor end up holding any water, elements from the controversial FF will find their way into the new GT model which is expected to be unveiled next year.

The Ferrari 599 GT will use the same gasoline direct injection V12 used in the FF, but it will be tricked to deliver an impressive 700 HP, up from the FF’s 600 HP. Four-wheel drive won’t be transferring over however as Ferrari has decided to keep the current RWD configuration. The company itself confirmed in a previous statement that an AWD system won’t be used on Ferrari’s ’ultimate’ sporting machines.

Going back to the Ferrari FF, the next version will focus on a reduction of total weight, but this doesn’t mean it will get carbon fiber elements: "The history of aluminum is not finished yet and full carbon fiber structures are still not economically viable for build volumes of more than two or three cars per day.

Citroën DS3 Racing review

Citroën DS3 1.6 THP Racing Road Test

Test date Tuesday, March 08, 2011  Price as tested £23,100

For Attention-seeking looks l Entertaining performance l Everyday liveability

Against Overpriced in comparison with most rivals l Firm ride l Torque steer.

We like the Citroën DS3. If nothing else, it proved that the company is still capable of making desirable, engaging hatches. But the DS3 Racing must do more than just add a bit more power to what is already a successful model.
It costs almost £7000 more than the THP 150 model and is available only with a 204bhp version of the company’s turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine. So the DS3 Racing must prove that it is not just a faster variant, but a totally different performance class and ownership proposition from its capable stablemate.
That Citroën’s motorsport division is the brains behind the set-up lends it the necessary pedigree, but such a high price means plenty of competition. Its direct rival is the Mini John Cooper Works, but with the Renaultsport Clio Cup £6k cheaper than the Citroën and more mature or faster machinery such as the Volkswagen Scirocco and Mégane 250 Cup within price range, the DS3 Racing must either set a new hot hatch benchmark or provide an unmatched blend of performance, liveability and desirability.

Special BMW M3 for China

BMW has launched a new special edition M3 specifically for the Chinese market.
The BMW M3 Matte Edition follows on from the M3 Tiger Edition that was launched in 2010 to celebrate China's year of the tiger.

See pics of the BMW M3 Matte Edition

The new Chinese M3 special gets a choice of two new exterior finishes, gunmetal grey or black, both of which are created by combining a metallic finish with a silky clear matte coat. Other exterior touches include lightweight 19-inch alloys, red brake callipers and black air intakes and exhaust tips.
On the inside, the dashboard is finished with carbonfibre and the black leather seats are stitched in red, as are the door armrests.
Power for the Matte edition remains unchanged, using the standard M3’s 4.0-litre V8 engine with 414bhp.

Merc plans nine-speed auto'

Mercedes is working on a nine-speed automatic gearbox, according to senior engineering sources.
The new ‘box will be introduced on large-capacity engines, our sources claimed.
The ‘box is said to offer huge improvements in fuel economy and CO2 emissions, but development of gearboxes with more than nine ratios is unlikely.
Mercedes engineers believe nine ratios is the maximum that is technically possible, as well as being the most that customers will be able to cope with.

2012 Future Cars

The lights are back on and factory floors are buzzing. Hot metal is pouring out of car companies that are leaner, greener, and meaner than ever. We've driven many of their offerings and looked ahead a couple of years for the rest. What's next? It all starts right here with our 2012 Future Cars guide, an A-to-Z sampling of some of the most anticipated vehicles coming soon from the world's top automakers...

First Look: Rolls-Royce 102EX Concept

While an engineer at rival Bentley scoffed and called it "window dressing", Rolls-Royce insiders insist the 102EX concept unveiled at the Geneva Show is the real deal -- a genuine prototype designed to test customer reaction to the idea of an electric-powered Phantom.

The EX moniker - and the red RR badging - has been used by Rolls-Royce to distinguish what the company calls "experimental" models since 1919. And while Henry Royce started his career as an electrical engineer and Charles Rolls spoke favorably of electric vehicles before his death in1910, there's never been a Rolls-Royce as experimental as this Phantom electric vehicle.

Rolls-Royce owners can easily afford to pay high gas guzzler taxes, aren't concerned about soaring fuel prices, and don't care whether London continues to exempt electric vehicles from its daily congestion charge. And in truth, with annual sales of less than 1000 vehicles the Phantom's contribution to global oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions is an almost immeasurable fraction of that made by the 72 million cars and light trucks sold around the world last year.

But as the big, opulent Phantom is seen by some as a symbol of excess rather success, the 102EX is really more about symbolism than saving the planet. Ironically, an electric-powered Phantom makes a lot of sense, on several levels. First, the characteristics of an electric powertrain -- abundant low-end torque, plus unparalleled smoothness and silence -- have been the hallmarks of Rolls-Royce engines since the 1907 Silver Ghost. Second, most current Phantom owners don't actually drive their cars that far, averaging somewhere between 1000 and 2000 miles a year, according to Rolls-Royce communications director Richard Carter.

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350

Driving the length of the Canary Island of Tenerife is roughly equivalent to leaving my driveway in Huntington Beach and motoring up the California coast to Malibu. Driving up the California coast I see beaches, a bit of low-altitude forest, and miles of urban sprawl. If I'm lucky the drive culminates in a parking spot leading to pancakes and good coffee. Traversing Tenerife means starting on a tropical beach, climbing through lush jungle, eventually finding a high desert that gives way to forest, and finally culminating in a volcanic wasteland that looks more like the surface of Mars than a tourist trap for Europeans. Luckily, the 2012 Mercedes SLK350 is not only great for all-season touring, but all ecospheres as well.

Forget what you know about SLKs of the past. You might think of them as hairdressers' cars or beach cruisers for 20-something trophy wives, and you would be correct. For 2012, Mercedes has refined the entry-level roadster into something entirely different, something you might even be able to call a sports car while keeping a straight face.

The most obvious change is the styling. It's reminiscent of the SLS AMG, the supercar that harkens back to the iconic 300SL Gullwing and an era when sports car racers wore leather helmets and warmed up with pre-race martinis. The elongated nose adds a classic touch to the more modern squat dimensions. The hood hangs over the grille, a daring move in the day of jelly-bean-shaped cars that avoid any styling that doesn't look like it was formed with a frosting spatula. The SLK manages to carry classic features without falling into the retro trap. It's unique without being over-styled or kitschy. The sharper radius curves and bulging fenders make the SLK borderline manly. Borderline.

2012 BMW 650i Coupe

We knew for some time that BMW was busy prepping the 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, the hard top version of its all-new 6 Series, but Munich decided the fixed-roof 6 would arrive after the convertible version. It's simply a timing thing, as the 6 drop-top is set to hit U.S. streets just in time for the summer.

Fans of the 650i coupe won't have too long to wait. BMW, which has just released the first official photos and details of the new coupe, is planning a fall release for the new 6 coupe in America.

Predictably, the new 650i coupe is a line-for-line clone of its convertible sibling below the beltline. Previewed by the 6 Series Concept shown at the 2010 Paris auto show, the new 6 Series coupe's exterior sheetmetal is clean, sculpted, and a refreshing change from the previous model. Designers labored to lend the coupe and convertible similar rooflines, although the hardtop does receive slender C-pillars, which incorporate the brand's distinctive Hofmeister kink.

Despite growing almost three inches in length and 1.5 inches in width, engineers labored to prevent the 650i from simultaneously gaining weight. Finalized specifications have yet to be released, but the new 6 makes extensive use of lightweight materials. Aluminum is employed in coupe's doors, hood, front shock towers, and a majority of the suspension components. The front fenders, trunk lid, and outer roof skin are crafted from composite materials.

The 6 Series coupe will only be sold in North America as a 650i. As with the convertible, the 650i makes use of BMW's twin-turbocharged, 4.4-liter V-8, which is rated at 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. BMW's eight-speed automatic transmission, which we found to be a fine gearbox during our stint in the convertible, is standard equipment. For those looking to shift their own gears, a six-speed manual is an option. Remarkably, the manual-equipped cars are only bound for North America. Regardless of the gearbox, expect the 650i to be quite quick: BMW says either car is capable of sprinting from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds, and is electronically limited to a top speed of 155 mph.

First Drive: 2012 Aston Martin Virage

If you have to ask whether the new Aston Martin Virage is really worth roughly 30 grand more than the near identical-looking DB9, here's a tip: Don't ask Ulrich Bez. The mercurial German, who's headed Aston since 2000, has little time for those who don't appreciate the subtle nuances that define the individual models in the company's 14-car lineup, all of which, apart from the stubby Toyota iQ-based Cygnet, look remarkably similar. "Our cars look like Aston Martins," he says defiantly. "If you don't like the look, buy another car."

As Aston Martin design director Marek Reichman walks you around the new Virage, showing you a new surface here, a new line there, and all the fresh detailing in the new headlights, grille, and front and rear fascias, it is possible to appreciate how different this car is from the DB9 and DBS models that bracket it in terms of price, power, and performance. But in today's ADD-addled world, you can't help but wonder whether anyone will notice. To all but the aficionados, this new Aston looks pretty much like every other new Aston of the past 10 years.

It's much the same when you drive it. If you've spent a lot of time in Astons recently, you'll immediately appreciate that the Virage is a little quicker and a little more athletic than the DB9, yet feels smoother and more refined. It's like a DBS dipped in molasses; the underlying edginess is coated with a sweet layer of tactile linearity that is truly delightful.

A new inlet manifold has liberated an extra 20 hp compared with the DB9, pushing the output of the hand-built 6.0-liter V-12 under the hood to 490 hp at 6500 rpm. The extra power has come at the expense of some torque -- it's down 23 lb-ft compared with the DB9's V-12 -- but the shorter final drive ratio appropriated from the DBS helps make the most of the engine's appetite for higher revs. Aston Martin claims the Virage will cover the 0-60-mph sprint in less than 4.5 seconds, and on the road it delivers smooth, elastic thrust right through the rev range.