Aston Martin is celebrating its centenary in world-class style with the debut of a very unique concept vehicle. Named the CC100 Speedster Concept, this car’s design concept is similar to the open top Lamborghini we saw a couple of months ago.

The body remains quite the same as any Aston Martin but the individual cockpit seats and the absence of a windshield is what makes this concept unique. Created as a stunning celebration of the brand’s 100 years of sports car excellence, the one-off CC100 looks both to the past and the DBR1 – Aston Martin’s greatest sporting triumph on the track – and to the future with its teasing glimpses of potential future design direction.

The 6.0-litre V12-powered concept car also completed a lap of the famous Nordschleife at Germany’s ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring race. It lapped the circuit together with the 1000km race-winning 1959 DBR1 with British racing legend Sir Stirling Moss at the wheel. The concept was designed and constructed in fewer than six months at Aston Martin’s global headquarters in Gaydon. The two-seater CC100 is the work of Design Director Marek Reichman working alongside the brand’s Chief Exterior Designer Miles Nurnberger.

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Drifting is the first stunt that any driver and every driver attempts to do. And although it might not be easy, if you seem to have the right machine and the right track you could probably pull off the longest drift in History. That is exactly what BMW attempted to do. The legendary BMW M5 Sedan shattered the Guinness World Record for longest sustained drift at the BMW Performance Center near Greenville, South Carolina on Saturday, May 11, 2013, with BMW Performance Center Instructor Johan Schwartz behind the wheel. The M5 exceeded the previous record set in February in Abu Dhabi by 47.71 miles. A total of 322.5 laps were completed around the 841-foot (circumference) Performance Center skid pad, providing a total distance-travelled of 51.278 miles. The M-DCT transmission-equipped 2013 BMW M5 Sedan was an unmodified car from the BMW Performance Center school fleet which began the record attempt with a fresh set of Continental ContiSport ultra-high performance tires (sizes 255/30/20 front, 295/30/20 rear). The record-breaking attempt also managed to generate over $20,000 in charitable donations benefiting The BMW Charity Pro-Am.

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The wait is over and Mercedes have finally officially unveiled the new S-Class sedan luxury vehicle. Mercedes is heavy on its heels trying to catch up with fellow German car makers BMW and Audi, that they have even stated that the new S-Class has been designed to most luxurious and advanced vehicles ever constructed.

“Rather than being about safety or aesthetics, power or efficiency, comfort or dynamism, our aspirations were ‘the best or nothing’ in every respect. No other car stands for the Mercedes-Benz brand promise more than the S-Class,” said Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

The car also looks better than before and the radiator grille is now larger, upright and distinctly three-dimensional in design. With its long bonnet, the flowing, domed roof line and the gently slanting rear end, the new S-Class has classic saloon proportions. The size and space have been fashioned in such a way that the S-Class appears prestigious, and the powerful roof line are curves also add a bit of sportiness in its looks.

It is also the first car to be completely fitted with LEDs and not using a single light bulb. Even on the inside there are approximately 300 LEDs. It is also the world’s first car to be able to detect bumps on the road ahead. It uses ROAD SURFACE SCAN to detect such unevenness by means of the stereo camera, and then a system called MAGIC BODY CONTROL instantaneously sets up the suspension to deal with the new situation. There is also tons of safety features including some new additions to technology and the interior has been made more spacious, comfortable and entertaining. There are many different engine options available including a hybrid variant.

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Italian supercar manufacturers seem to be going the one-off way, in the sense that they have been building quite a few on-off models to excite their fan-base and get some extra attention. Their latest attempt is the magnificent, or some would say over the top, Egoista. The main reason for the launch of such a model is actually the celebration of their 50th anniversary. The car was designed by Walter De Silva and was unveiled in front of a thousand invitees.

Powered by a 5.2-liter V10 engine supplying it with 600 horsepower, the Lamborghini Egoista is an intentionally extreme and unusual vehicle with absolutely unique characteristics, created by the Volkswagen Group design team. We can’t really describe the way it looks because we are not sure for ourselves what it tries to be. It does resemble the Mach 5 from Speed Racer somehow with its three pointed front end and one seat cabin the middle. The upper part of the vehicle does not have aerodynamic appendages, but rather flaps integrated in the bodywork profile, which act automatically depending on the driving conditions. Two rear flaps activate automatically at high speeds to increase stability, while a series of air intakes on the back of the engine hood provides the cooling air flow to the powerful V10 power plant. While the front of the vehicle has a profile intended to increase downforce, the rear is fully open with the mechanics in view, reducing weight but also with the result of creating a more aggressive look.

This is no ordinary road car and most likely would be preferred on track. The cockpit’s interior is taken to the extreme. There is a racing seat with a four-point seatbelt, each strip a different color, the airbags, and the bare minimum of instruments. The focal point of these is a head-up display, typical of jet fighters. To get out of the vehicle, the driver must remove the steering wheel and rest it on the dashboard, open the dome with an electronic command, stand up in their seat, sit down on a precise point of the left-hand bodywork, then swivel their legs 180 degrees from the inside of the cockpit to the outside of the vehicle.

Only one will be made unfortunately and with a hefty price tag we can only imagine.

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The new Ford EcoSport is finally here. The crossover compact SUV that has set the motoring world a buzz has finally come to India. We had a chance to drive it, so let us share our thoughts about what could be a game changer in the Indian automotive industry.

First things first, the EcoSport looks quite brilliant. I have no complains about the way it has been designed. Essentially it looks like a hatchback that has been raised up high off the ground with a spare wheel on the rear boot to make it look more muscular and more like an SUV. It’s got curves, nice wheel arches and it seems like its wide enough. The length of the car has been kept below 4 metres, and its ground clearance is a very impressive 200mm. It might just sell because of the way it looks.

Step inside the Ford EcoSport and again the interior design has been laid out quite well. The dashboard looks nice with some neat buttons and clever looking AC vents, then there is the multimedia interface and a good looking instrument cluster. The overall quality of the dashboard is typical Ford though as you can feel the cheapness of the plastics. But it still looks good and the seats compliment the interiors further. They are nicely set up and are also quite comfortable. There is however a concern with rear seat space and I feel the EcoSport will only fit in 4 people comfortably. There is also a decent amount of room in the trunk and the seats can be arranged so you can make even more room for storage.

There are three engine variants that are available. There is of course the award winning 1.0 litre Ecoboost engine that gives you great power figures of 125bhp and this is the car we drove. The 1.0 litre is also mated to a nice 5 speed gearbox. The clutch might be a little too light but other than that the match between engine and transmission is quite good. There is also the 1.5 litre petrol and a diesel engine with the same transmission, but in the petrol variant you get the option of an automatic transmission as well, which I think is a good move by Ford.

The 1.0 litre Ecoboost engine is quite amazing, and you can easily feel the power when you accelerate, but mostly after you cross 2000rpm. The car accelerates with ease even though it is heavier than a Renault Duster at 1350kg. The steering wheel is also nice and the car responds well to your steering inputs. Along corners there is quite a bit of body roll, but that was expected from a sub-4 metre car which sits high. The brakes are a little weak and you really need to press down hard for them to work, and the tyres don’t have the best grip when you brake hard. Other than that the performance is really good and the ride quality is nice and comfy.

Another nice thing about the EcoSport is that it comes loaded with features, the best being Ford Sync, which is Ford’s latest technology for vehicle-driver interface. It is even voice controlled so you don’t need to use your hands at all to make calls or select music. It also comes with a very nice air-conditioning system that gets the cabin nice and cool even on the hottest day. There are also Power windows, power steering and Smart Start and keyless entry.

There is no compromise on safety as the Ford EcoSport gets some great technology. There are airbags all around the cabin and there is also Hill Launch Assist and ABS.

Overall the Ford Ecosport looks tough, but we feel otherwise. The overall quality is not the best because they have tried to cut costs down, and you can definitely see that in the interiors. The car has not been around long enough so we can’t say just how reliable it is, but judging by their other models it should be good enough for Indian roads. Some of the parts might expensive but again we will just have to see how it goes.

The EcoSport will compete in a segment that is relatively new to India and its closest rival will probably be the Renault Duster. The Duster seems to be a little more refined, but the EcoSport is cheaper and looks a little more appealing on the inside and the outside. Take a test drive before you decide to get one.

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In celebration of its 50th birthday and against the backdrop of the Shanghai Auto Show 2013, Automobili Lamborghini is presenting a very special super sports car with exclusive equipment and technology. The Lamborghini Aventador LP 720-4 50° Anniversario is a limited and numbered series of 100 units worldwide. Each unit has a Forged Composite badge with the 50 years logo and a serial number.

The power output of the car has also been increased. Thanks to an engine calibration, the 6.5-liter 12-cylinder in the Aventador LP 720-4 50° Anniversario is 20bhp more powerful than the current V12 in the Aventador LP 700-4. With its extremely fast-shifting ISR transmission, the anniversary model accelerates from 0-100kmph in 2.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 350kmph. The car has also been redesigned and the aerodynamics further optimized. The front air intakes and the aerodynamic splitter have been enlarged and extended, and small flaps set into the sides. The rear end is completely new and features an enlarged diffuser and expansive meshwork that further improves engine-compartment ventilation.

All Lamborghini models built in the 2013 anniversary year feature the 50th anniversary emblem in the cockpit.

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Audi, the German luxury car manufacturer, today introduced a special edition of its largest selling luxury sedan Audi A6 to celebrate the sale of 6,000 Audi A6 cars in six years in India. Demonstrating successful interplay of design and technology, the special edition Audi A6 is available in two engine options – the 2.0 litre TDI and the 3.0 litre TDI.

The special edition Audi A6 will come with some pretty awesome features such as Adaptive Air Suspension with Audi Drive Select. The user has the option of choosing from four different modes – Comfort, Dynamic, Auto and Individual, to suit his style of driving. The car will also feature the Audi brand’s full array of high-tech expertise in every detail. An efficient 4-zone deluxe air conditioning system controls the temperature in the car according to the position and intensity of the sun and ensures faster cooling on the rear side. The MMI Touch offers the user new and unique ways of operating all MMI functions without having to divert their eyes from the road. For the convenience of rear passengers, MMI Remote Control is provided to control the MMI in the car. Also, a 14-speaker Bose Surround Sound System offers 3-dimensional listening experience. Rear Side Airbags are provided for additional safety to rear passengers. Apart from the generous interiors, LED headlights underscore the distinctive appearance on the outside. The car will be available in India with an introductory price of Rs 46.33 lakhs onwards (ex-showroom Delhi).

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The 2013 edition of the Shanghai Auto Show is underway and Volkswagen took the opportunity to reveal their latest concept vehicle. The car definitely takes design cues from Audi and it comes with some pretty awesome technology. The CrossBlue Coupe Concept is powered by a plug-in hybrid system that is as fuel efficient as it is sporty. A V6 turbo direct petrol injection engine works together with two electric motors here; and a maximum system power output is as much as 400bhp. When the car’s full power potential is utilised, the SUV becomes a sports car and accelerates to 100kmph in just 5.9 seconds, and its maximum speed is 236kmph.

The CrossBlue Coupé can be driven in all-electric mode, without any emissions at all, over a distance of up to 33 kilometres and at a maximum speed of 120kmph. To intentionally use this especially eco-friendly mode in urban areas, the driver can push a button to select the all-electric drive mode. The CrossBlue Coupé is also one of the safest SUVs worldwide thanks to the electronic stabilisation programme, an all-wheel drive with “propshaft by wire” that is engineered for dynamic performance and safety and up to ten airbags.

The driver can intentionally switch over to Charge mode by pressing another button on the centre console. In this mode, the battery is charged by petrol engine while driving, e.g. so that enough electrical energy can be stored in the battery for later zero-emissions driving. The concept has not been officially announced for production, but we have an idea what direction the company is heading in.

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The nine-time world rally champion Sébastien Loeb and Peugeot Sport will compete at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 30 this year. The Frenchman will tackle the world’s highest hill climb – which reaches an altitude of 4,301 metres – at the wheel of the 208 T16 Pikes Peak. This menacing looking car has been specially engineered and built by Peugeot Sport. The event marks the French team’s return to the classic American event after its memorable victories there in 1988 and 1989.

The exterior styling of the car does resemble the production model, but the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak was tailor engineered and designed to meet the specific needs of the famous American event. The car and driver will compete in the ‘Unlimited Class’ which doesn’t restrict technical specifications to cars.

Today more than 150 drivers get behind the wheel in a host of sometimes implausible vehicles to take on the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the world’s highest competition of its sort and America’s oldest motorsport fixture apart from the Indy 500. The principle behind the so-called ‘Race to the Clouds’ is simple and involves each competitor taking turns to drive the 20km course that twists its way along the mountain’s flanks to reach its summit at 4,301metres in the shortest time possible.

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Ford Motor Co. and General Motors have recently signed an agreement under which both companies will jointly develop an all-new generation of advanced technology 9- and 10-speed automatic transmissions for cars, crossovers, SUVs and trucks. The new transmissions will be built for both front- and rear-wheel drive variants and will improve vehicle performance and increase fuel economy.

The collaboration will also enable the automakers to design, develop, engineer, test, validate and deliver these new transmissions for their vehicles faster and at a lower cost than if each company worked independently, so it does make perfect sense for both of them. In fact many manufacturers have begun to merge to bring down overall costs.

This new agreement marks the third time in the past decade that GM and Ford have collaborated on transmissions. These collaborative efforts have enabled both companies together to deliver more than 8 million durable, high-quality 6-speed front-wheel drive transmissions to customers around the globe. These original collaborations served as a template for the new one. As before, each company will manufacture its own transmissions in its own plants with many common components.

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Yes this might just be a safety car, but it is one seriously mean machine. To celebrate the anniversary of a successful partnership between MotoGP and BMW, the German car maker’s M division will be starting its 15th season as “Official Car of MotoGP”. BMW has been involved in MotoGP since 1999 and provides the official Safety Cars and here is the latest beast that will keep the track safe. This season, the BMW M6 Gran Coupe will spearhead the fleet of Safety Cars in action in the MotoGP World Championship. The high-performance BMW M6 Gran Coupe is a premium product, which combines outstanding performance with captivating aesthetics and luxurious elegance. The latest top model to emerge from BMW M GmbH is powered by a high-rev V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology and generating 560bhp. It is this power that allows the BMW M6 Gran Coupe to accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in just 4.2 seconds. The engine performance, chassis technology, aerodynamic properties and balance, which is optimised using components such as the carbon-fibre reinforced plastic roof, are aligned with the kind of precision that people have come to expect of M. As such, the BMW M6 Gran Coupe not only offers a new luxury experience in an M vehicle, but also fully exhausts the dynamic driving potential, which is rooted in the BMW 6 Series.

The Safety Car version of the BMW M6 Gran Coupe has been specially modified for its use as a pace car out on the racetrack. In total, the fleet of official MotoGP cars for the 2013 season comprises of 5 BMW M and M Performance models. As well as the BMW M6 Gran Coupe, the BMW M6 Coupe and the BMW M5 will also be in action as Safety Cars. The Safety Officer will take to the track in a BMW M3 Coupe, while two BMW M550d xDrive Tourings will be used as medical cars. BMW Motorrad will also provide two new BMW HP4s as Safety Bikes. You can find more information on the 2013 Safety Car fleet online at bmw-m-safetycar.com.

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Volvo Car Group‘s new engine family VEA (Volvo Engine Architecture) will be launched this autumn with world-first i-ART technology that helps to cut fuel consumption in the new diesel engines. By featuring pressure feedback from each fuel injector instead of using a traditional single pressure sensor in the common rail, i-ART makes it possible to continuously monitor and adapt fuel injection per combustion in each of the four cylinders.

“Increasing the rail pressure to an exceptionally high 2,500 Bar, while adding the i-ART technology, can be described as the second step in the diesel revolution. It is a breakthrough comparable to when we invented the groundbreaking lambda sensor for the catalytic converter in 1976. It’s another world-first for Volvo,” says Derek Crabb, Vice President Powertrain Engineering at Volvo Car Group.

The combination of higher injection pressure and i-ART technology gives the customer an engine with improved fuel economy, considerably lower emissions and high performance output as well as a powerful sound character. Volvo Car Group will launch the Volvo Engine Architecture in autumn 2013. With VEA, Volvo will also introduce a new 8-speed automatic gearbox that contributes to a refined drive and excellent fuel economy. Diesel common rail and petrol direct injection are standard in the upcoming modular range of diesel and petrol engines. Several levels of turbo charging open up for the flexibility to cover the whole range from fuel-efficient derivatives through to high power and torque variants. In order to cover all customer requirements, certain engines will also gain added performance via electrification or other spearhead technology.

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MINI Plant Oxford is celebrating 100 years of production and to mark the occasion, a centenary exhibition was opened at the plant’s new Visitor Centre last month by Britain’s Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin and Member of the Board of Management at BMW Harald Krüger. 100 years ago to the day, the plant’s first car – a “Bullnose” Morris Oxford – was built just a stone’s throw away from where the current MINI production facility stands. Back in 1913 weekly production stood at 20 vehicles, but over the years that followed the factory’s output was to grow rapidly. To date, the plant has produced over 11.65 million cars bearing the badges of 14 different brands. Some 500,000 people have worked here over the years, the workforce peaking at 28,000 in the early 1960s. Today, Plant Oxford employs 3,700 associates and builds up to 900 MINI cars every day. More than 2.25 million MINIs have rolled off the assembly line since production began. This historic occasion also elicited congratulations and best wishes from arguably England’s most famous address – 10 Downing Street. “The substantial contribution which the Oxford plant has made to the British economy over the last 100 years is something all involved should be proud of,” said Prime Minister David Cameron.

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The first BMW X model was showcased way back in 1999 when the X5 came into being. The BMW X3 and BMW X1 were likewise the first SAVs in their class and continue to set the pace among their rivals today. This development took on a new dimension in May 2008 with the introduction of the BMW X6 – the first Sports Activity Coupe (SAC). This still unique concept brought together the rugged looks of a BMW X model with the emotional aura and sporting character of a BMW Coupe for the first time. The enduring popularity of BMW’s first SAC is borne out by its consistently high sales figures. The short history of the BMW X range is already a successful one. Since the first BMW X model took to the stage, average sales across the BMW X line-up have progressed on a constant upward curve: one in four new BMW cars is now a BMW X model. With the BMW Concept X4, the BMW Group offers a preview of the future of the BMW X family. It takes no more than a first glance to see how smoothly the qualities of a BMW X model can blend with the genes of a BMW Coupe. The new Sports Activity Coupe concept from BMW is poised to continue the success story of the BMW X6 in a new vehicle class. Eye-catching proportions, tight contours and numerous high-quality details produce an unrivalled product character brimming with emotional appeal, dynamism and the sturdiness you would expect from a BMW X model, while at the same time holding out the promise of outstanding performance and driving dynamics. The X4 is no doubt a beautiful looking car but what lurks under the hook? So far BMW have not revealed to much about the cars specifications but we can surely expect to find a TwinPower Turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 240bhp and 352Nm of torque and there will most definitely be a more powerful TwinPower Turbo 3.0-liter inline-six with 300bhp and 406 Nm of torque. The X4 is most likely to go on sale in the summer of 2014.

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General Motors has just disclosed that a total of almost US$ 332 million will be invested in four manufacturing sites across the US to produce more fuel-efficient engines and transmissions. The investments – announced today at GM plants in Flint and Bay City, Mich.; Toledo, Ohio, and Bedford, Ind. – will support production of a new Ecotec small gas engine, a new V6 engine, 8-speed transmission, and tooling for an existing 6-speed transmission. GM also is increasing previously announced powertrain investment in plants in Romulus and Saginaw, Mich., to $646 million – an increase of $46 million – to support production of the new V6 engine. Since 2009, GM has announced nearly $1.8 billion of investments for the six powertrain facilities.

Here is how the investments break down –

• $215 million in Flint Engine Operations for a new small Ecotec gasoline engine, which is part of a new family of engines that includes 3- and 4-cylinder variants with displacements ranging from 1.0 to 1.5 liters. Details of what variants the plant will build will be announced later. The plant will also upgrade tooling for its current V6 engine.
• $55.7 million in Toledo Transmission Operations for increased capacity and tooling to produce an all-new, advanced 8-speed automatic transmission and an existing 6-speed transmission. The Toledo-based 8-speed will be used in numerous GM vehicles by the end of 2016.
• $31.7 million in Bay City Powertrain including $19.2 million to produce components for a new V6 engine and $12.5 million to produce components for the small Ecotec gasoline engine.
• $29.4 million in Bedford Castings including $19 million to produce components for the small gas engine and $10.4 million to produce components for the new 8-speed and existing 6-speed transmissions.

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