Volkswagen Intros New R-Line Sport Package for Touareg SUV

.fullpost { display: inline; } Volkswagen Touareg shoppers now have one more box to tick on the options list as the German automaker has released the third and final R-Line package for the luxury SUV model, aptly called 'Exterior'. As its name suggests, the new package gives the Touareg a more aggressive appearance on the outside. It includes a bodykit with a front apron, chunky side skirts, a bespoke roof spoiler and a rear apron that incorporates a diffuser in a matte black finish with openings for the chrome tail pipes. The exterior styling kit can be combined with the two other available packages, and in particular the standard R-Line, which includes 20-inch alloy wheels, a sports suspension, stainless steel door sill plates,...

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Australia: Now you see the New Mazda2 Sedan, now you Don't

.fullpost { display: inline; } The Mazda2 four-door small sedan has been dropped from the firm's lineup in Australia, just eight months after launch. The reason is Mazda's decision to switch production of the Australian market version of the small car from its Thailand factory, which manufactures both sedan and hatchback body styles, to the company's Hiroshima plant in Japan, which builds only the hatchback version. The Japanese automaker said the move was dictated by the success of the Mazda2 in the Thailand region and the fact it could not guarantee supply to the Australian market. Mazda Australia spokesman Steve Maciver told reporters that the company does not except the loss of the four-door model to harm local sales as the ...

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VIDEO: Oops...Ford F-150 Steps Over Ferrari 458 Italia

.fullpost { display: inline; } The owner of a brand new Ferrari 458 Italia with some 500 miles on the odometer in Brandon Florida received a quick lesson on the disadvantages of a low slung sports car in the land of pickup trucks and SUVs when a Ford F-150 ran over its hood. We don't know if the F-150 driver mistook Maranello's creation for a red speed bump or if the Ferrari owner questioned Ford's 'Built Tough' slogan, but something tells us this video is going to become a hit. You can watch the clip after the bre...

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New Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Production Begins, Prices Start from $30,000

.fullpost { display: inline; } General Motor today celebrated the start of regular production of the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible at its Oshawa assembly plant in Canada. The drop-top version of the Detroit firm's muscle car will go on sale in the U.S. in February and will be available with two engine options and four trim packages with prices starting from US$30,000 MSRP including an $850 destination fee. The entry-level 1LT (US$30,000) and 2LT (US$33,500) Camaro Convertible models are powered by a 3.6-liter direct injection V6 motor rated at 312 horsepower and 278 lb.-ft. or 370 Nm of torque, and can be equipped with either a standard six-speed manual gearbox or an optional six-speed automatic transmission. Those seeking...

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Top Gear USA Host to Coach Bloggers and Consumers at 2012 Ford Focus Global Test Drive Event in Spain

.fullpost { display: inline; } This young man you're looking at the portrait above is Tanner Foust and he will be on hand to teach bloggers [sic] and consumers at Ford's 2012 Focus global test drive event that will take place in Madrid, Spain from February 18 to 20. And who is Tanner Foust, we hear some of you in the USA and probably all of you outside the North American continent, ask? Well, Foust is one of the hosts of the American edition of the Top Gear show that airs on History Channel. According to Ford, Foust is also a "rallyist, stunt driver, drift champion and television personality". No offense but we think "an over-hyped racing driver that has been shoved down our throats by PR people and certain websites because he won...

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Audi Begins Producing A4 and A6 Models in Indonesia

.fullpost { display: inline; } Like many other automakers, Audi is constantly expanding its production network to include new countries. This time, the German premium carmaker has launched a new assembly plant in Indonesia in cooperation with INDOMOBIL /Garuda Mataram Motor, to produce the Audi A4 1.8 TFSI and A6 2.0 TFSI cars in the capital city Jakarta. The first A4 and A6 models were delivered to Indonesian customers earlier this month, with the German company planning to assemble around 2,700 cars per year by 2015, including 2,000 A4 models, exclusively for the Indonesian market. Audi said the Indonesian car market is forecast to grow by 15 percent this year, with sales in the premium segment expected to double over the next...

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VIDEO: 2012 Nissan GT-R vs 2011 Nissan GT-R Drag Race

.fullpost { display: inline; } Back in 2009, Nissan GT-R owners had to face an odd dilemma: even though the car came with a launch control system, using it meant voiding the warranty. In the ensuing controversy, the Japanese maker simply dropped it for the 2010 model year, stating that it doesn’t want to deal with the “warranty nightmare” anymore.However, the launch control is back on the 2012 GT-R’s equipment list in a revised form that allows customers to use it four times in a row, before shutting off in order to protect the transmission. Just like the original, the new system (LC4) launches from 4,000 rpm, but it’s better at minimizing wheel spin, making the latest and more powerful (+45HP) iteration of the Japanese sports car...

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New Honda App Allows iPhone Users to Catch Characters from TV Spot as they Appear on the Commercial

.fullpost { display: inline; } In a ground-breaking campaign, Honda has merged the worlds of iPhone Apps and traditional commercials, be they on your TV, computer screen or mobile phone. Created to celebrate the launch of the revised Honda Jazz [Fit in the U.S.], the new interactive app allows iPhone users to virtually catch animated characters as they appear on screen in the firm's new TV advert 'This Unpredictable Life' and drop them into their phones, more or less in the same way you'd use a PS3 Move or Nintendo wii motion-controller. The Japanese carmaker said it’s the first time the so-called screen-hopping technology has been used with a commercial. The App is called "Honda Jazz – This Unpredictable Life" and can be downloaded...

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Jaguar Wants a Smaller Model to Compete with the BMW 3-Series & Co.

.fullpost { display: inline; } With a lineup that comprises only three models – the XK coupe and cabriolet, XF sedan and XJ flagship limousine –, Jaguar needs a smaller, more affordable car in order boost sales and successfully compete with the likes of the BMW 3-series and the rest of Germany's premium offerings such as the Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4. According to the brand’s new global director, Adrian Hallmark, the automaker is currently considering a small sports car positioned below the XF that could spawn numerous variants including a four-door sedan. “We need different models. We need lower priced models”, said Hallmark. “Whether we do one, two or three body styles, we can still decide. But we have to be in the lower price.”...

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