Cadillac CTS-V Priced at £56,495 ($80K) in UK - Available from Next Month

Cadillac will start selling the CTS-V in the UK from this coming February. The car is being offered for the price of £56,495 OTR or about US$79,000 for the manual and £58,995 (US$82,300) for the automatic transmission version.

The CTS-V is the most powerful production Cadillac ever made. It's powered by a 6.2-litre V8 engine with a supercharger that produces 564PS (415kW) and 747Nm. A 0-60mph time of 3.9 seconds has officially been released while top speed is 191mph (307km/h). The automatic is limited to 175mph (282km/h).

The CTS-V currently holds the lap record for the fastest sedan at the Nürburgring.

Source: Cadillac

BMW M3 Touring Imaginatively Rendered with Supercharged V8 Engine

BMW currently has no plans of building an M3 wagon or Touring as the brand calls it. But that didn't stop an artist from creating an impression of one. Some of the features of this M3 Touring rendering include a paint job called Pepper White with Satin, an Argray Titanium exhaust, an AC Schnitzer front lip and roof wing and Black Series BBS RE Magnesium wheels with a Brembo 8-piston caliper brake system. Wrapped around its wheels are Yokohama ADVAN Sport Tyres.

Figuratively speaking, under the hood lies an engine force-fed by a custom Vortech supercharger. The standard M3 has a 4.0-litre V8 engine that produces 309 kW (420hp) and peak torque of 400Nm (295 lb-ft) at 3900rpm. Its maximum engine speed is 8400rpm. Although no power figures were speculated, it's safe to say that this rendered M3 Touring's engine, if real, would improve performance nicely.

The M3's main rivals are the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG and the discontinued Audi RS4, both of which have/had wagon/estate versions in real life.

Source: jonsibal.com

2010 Ford Taurus SHO Spied Naked

Although Ford wasn't expected to unveil the new Taurus SHO until the Chicago Auto Show next month, a few undisguised pictures have made their way to the internet.

The pictures were taken along I-75 in Michigan and from the lack of snow, it seems reasonable to assume they are several months old. According to the report that accompanied the photos, the cars come with dual exhaust, a rear deck spoiler, and at least 19-inch wheels.

Power is expected to come from Ford's new 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo direct-injection V6 engine which produces 355 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque (474 Nm). Judging by the fact that the 2010 Lincoln MKS equipped with all-wheel drive and the same engine gets 16 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, expect the new SHO's fuel economy to mirror that if not be slightly higher thanks to its lighter weight.

The new SHO will most likely only be offered with all-wheel drive in order to keep torque-steer under control, a complaint that occurs often in front wheel drive vehicles with power rating at or above 300 hp. Other performance goodies will most likely include the SR1 suspension which offers a "one-to-one" rear shock absorber ratio for enhanced cornering and handling while still delivering a comfortable ride and Ford's new SelectShift transmission that allows for rev-matching downshifts and the ability to hold gears.

Source: bringbackthesho.com via jalopnik.com

Mitsubishi Online Car Game - Win a three day ice racing trip to Finland

Mitsubishi has announced a new online game where contestants can attempt to qualify to win a three-day ice-racing holiday in Finland.

The online game can be played at www.control10.eu and it offers players a chance to brush up on their winter racing skills. It features nine different levels with the tenth level being ice racing in Finland, each level is supposed to teach players a unique skill necessary for driving an Evo X on arctic conditions.

Winners will travel to Finland where they will receive a three-day crash course in winter driving with the amazing Evo X. There they will be coached by 1998 vice-world rally champion, Uwe Nittel, and also travel via snowmobile to visit the Santa Claus village at the Arctic Circle.

While it may not beat yesterday's contest to win a 1997 Nissan Skyline, a trip to WCF's Finnish homeland and a chance to meet Santa isn't too shabby either.

Source: Mitsubishi

Chevrolet 2009 Corvette Competition Sport Package Revealed

Corvette enthusiasts who aren't lucky enough to have a new ZR-1 in the garage have some good news for 2009 as well. Even as General Motors turns its attention to electric cars, the performance side of the market hasn't been forgotten, and a 2009 Competition Sport Package is now available for 1LT and Z06 ‘Vettes.

The Competition Sport Package adds just the right amount of flash to finish off the Corvette's track-ready looks. Included are a set of racing stripes in Competition Gray, unique wheel and headlamp treatments and a collection of Corvette Racing "Jake" and CSR decals for the interior and exterior. Racing numbers that correspond to the individual owner's build number are also available. Inside, the Competition Sport Package adds an ebony interior with titanium embroidery and Corvette Racing pedals. A new engine cover is also a part of the package.

When combined with the Z51 Performance Package that adds a horsepower-boosting exhaust and differential cooler, the result is a seriously track-ready Corvette, especially in Z06 form.


Source: GM

Mini Announces New Entry-level Clubman (UK)

Mini is preparing to unveil a new entry-level version of the Clubman at this year's Geneva Motor Show. Set to launch in the UK on March 28, the Mini One Clubman echoes the affordability of the Mini One but features the additional interior room of the Clubman.

Under the hood is a 1.4-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with 95 horsepower that allows the Clubman to run from 0-62 mph in a leisurely 11.6 seconds. The sacrifice in power does add up to impressive gains in fuel economy and reduced emissions thanks to brake regeneration, auto start/stop and a shift point display that tells the driver when to shift to maximize fuel economy. The end result of all these technologies means that drivers can expect to achieve a combined fuel consumption of 52.3 mpg and CO2 emissions of 130 g/km.

UK pricing starts at £13,290 and all models will feature new exterior paint combinations and standard air conditioning.

Source: MINI

Audi A4 Outsells BMW 3-Series in Germany

The Audi A4 is not only Audi's top selling vehicle, it was also purchased more often in Germany than the BMW 3-Series. 2008 figures for the A4 have been released, with over 98,714 units in Germany. The Audi A6 and Audi TT also topped their segment, with 45,304 and 10,630 vehicle registrations, according to the company.

Audi claims the A4 was second only to the Volkswagen Golf in terms of overall sales in Germany. Both brands are owned by VW. The figures also show a great boost for Audi, with increased sales in Germany, and all of Western Europe. Audi Chairman Rupert Stadler said, "Audi is presently experiencing stronger growth than any other premium brand in the region - and thanks to new models we will maintain this dynamism."

"In a difficult market environment, we want to further expand our market share in Germany and Western Europe."

The 2009 model year Audi A4 was released in April 2008. The '09 S4 Sedan and Avant arrive in European dealerships this quarter.

Not a bad birthday present for Audi's 100-year anniversary. Audi sold more than one million vehicles worldwide last year. BMW still leads them as the global luxury brand, having sold 1.12 million in 2008.

Source: Audi