CEC announces Lexus LFA customization program

Los Angeles-based tuner CEC has announced a new partnership with Lexus North America to create a tuning program for the Lexus LFA. Limited to just three vehicles, these unique supercars will feature a variety of enhancements created specifically for each customer. “We believe these three CEC Tuner Edition LFAs will be the most expensive and rarest of all the LFA supercars that Lexus will manufacturer and sell worldwide,” said Sherif Yassa, Vice President of CEC.

Thanks to the technical innovations that went into building the LFA, the CEC upgrades will mostly be limited to aesthetics. “We looked at the LFA and what Lexus engineers had done, and knew it would be crazy to try and improve it from a performance or engineering standpoint,” said Claus Ettensberger, founder of CEC. Even so, the tuner has managed to squeeze an extra 10 horsepower from the 4.8-liter V10 and trimmed shift times to .15 of a second.

While we don’t have any photos of the trio of custom LFA supercars quite yet, CEC did have an LFA on display featuring their lightweight forged wheels. You can see high-res photos of the car in the gallery below.

1956 Cadillac Eldorado Broughham Motorama show car cruises to RM Amelia Island

 

These days, automakers routinely unveil concept cars and new models at major auto shows. Back in its heyday, General Motors played by a different set of rules. It organized its own car shows under the Motorama banner. Running throughout the 1950s, Motoramas were GM’s opportunity to showcase its products to the public and whet consumers’ appetites. Few Motorama cars were as showy as the Cadillac Eldorado Brougham Town Car concept. 

Unveiled at the Waldorf-Astoria in Manhattan for the 1956 “Highway of Tomorrow” Motorama, the Brougham Town Car was a concept for a chauffeur-driven version of the production Cadillac Brougham that hit the market the following year. The Town Car featured a half roof that left the driver, in classical style, exposed to the elements, and created a split cabin. Up front, the chauffeur sat in the open air surrounded by black leather and chrome. In back, the pampered occupants were coddled in beige leather, deep-pile Wilton carpeting and gold trim covering everything from the tissue dispenser and decanter to the bulkhead-mounted phone used to speak to the driver. After the New York Motorama, the Eldorado Brougham Town Car went on the road to Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston, but was then retired to GM’s Warhoops salvage yard. The staff there, according to the story, didn’t have the heart to rip the Brougham apart, so it stayed under a tarp for thirty years. 

It then passed through the hands of several prominent collectors before RM gave it a thorough restoration, including the installation of a detailed 365 cu. in. OHV V8 engine with four-speed Hydramatic transmission, suitable for driving the car off the trailer and over the concours judging stand. Consigned to RM Auctions, the car is set to cross the auction block on March 12 at Amelia Island, where it’s expected to fetch between $500,000 and $750,000. Follow the link to the auction site for full details of the lot and event, and check out the high-res images in the gallery below.

Source:Autoblog

Mazda to supply Nissan with its own version of Mazda5

Mazda has officially announced that it will supply the Mazda5 minivan to Nissan beginning in May of this year. But before you go dreaming of a Nissan micro-minivan here in the United States, know that this will be a Japan-only affair. As of this writing, mum’s the word on what the Nissan-badged Mazda will be called in the automaker’s home market. The Mazda5, or Premacy as it’s known in Japan, will “enrich [Nissan's] minivan lineup in the Japanese market” – a place where small MPVs are sold in great volume.

This is not the only collaboration between Mazda and Nissan in Japan. Currently, Mazda provides its Bongo Van/Truck to Nissan under the name Vanette. Likewise, Nissan supplies its AD/AD Expert to Mazda, sold under the name Familia Van. Follow the jump for the official press release.

 

Source:Autoblog

Citroen C3 launches Sonora

In an attempt to boost sales of the C3 hatchback, the French Citroen has launched a special version of the model. This is the C3 Sonora, special series result of a partnership between the manufacturer and online retailer of music on the Internet Sonora.

The special model comes equipped with a Pioneer sound, auxiliary input, USB, Bluetooth and MP3 connection. In addition, the driver has the ability to download 250 songs a month on the site at no cost Sonora. Citroën has not disclosed the price for the special issue.

To drive his motorcycle by his daughter 4 years indian girl

The immediate reaction to video of a young Indian girl riding a motorcycle without a helmet shock and horror when it can not be denied is the four-year-old with sunglasses looks cool. The father is bad, but the daughter's bad.

Source:jalopnik

What does your Zodiac sign say about your drive report? With Table

A new sign was recently added and changed the universe as we knew it. This led the U.S. insurance company Allstate, compare claims against the revised data zodiac calendar.

Scorpions were only involved in 1.5 percent of all accidents in 2010. If that's your character, congratulations, you're the best driver on the road!

The new sign, Ophiuchus dressed, even in the study as the second safest drivers. But that does not necessarily mean they are experienced riders. Most astrologers seem to individuals born under this sign, a hint a bit more luck than the others.

At the other end of the spectrum were young women, almost 700 percent more likely to be involved in a car accident as the determined and conscious Scorpios. It seems that between 16 September and 30 October are born shy and tend to look behind the wheel.

Here is a list of star sign is the best and worst car drivers involved in the street on the number of drivers in accidents in 2010 based on:

Halle Berry was spotted parking her Lexus hybrid on the streets of Hollywood

Halle Berry Lookin Hot With Her Lexus RX 400h

Halle Berry was discovered in her Lexus hybrid car park on the streets of Hollywood.

source: celebritycarsblog

F1: GP Lotus Renault announces two new 'third driver' for 2011

Romain Grosjean, Bruno Senna have been designated 'third driver' for the 2011 season despite the recent signing of Fauzy, protected Proton, as reserve driver.

The Franco-Swiss 24-year-old made his F1 debut in summer 2009 after the ouster of Nelson Piquet Jr, but was not selected in the following year when Renault reshuffle. It will also return full time in GP2 this season.

Romain Grosjean ad: "2011 marks my return with a third place at Lotus Renault driver (in F1) and a full season in GP2 Asia and GP2 with DAMS team."

Young added on television channel TF1: "Being a third driver allows me to gain great experience, being in the garage to see the world, and understand what I missed during my first run in F1. Now the idea is to be a race driver in 2012.

Spy Shots: 2013 Hyundai Genesis Facelift

The Hyundai Genesis is a great car. This I know anyone who might have to grab your steering wheel or read the evidence which has been subjected by the press, but as this is true, so is that "enjoys" a little impersonal body. It is dull, dull, unfit even for a company that never stops trying new things with cars like the Sonata, the ix35 or Veloster. So welcome with open arms the latest images of restyling, surprised and without camouflage.via

Volkswagen introduced the R-Line package for the Touareg 2012

Virtually all models of the Volkswagen are among its many options a sport package that enhances the appearance with a strong dynamic touch. Dubbed R-Line, is now also available in the second generation Touareg.

Among the items included in the R-Line package may include:

* specific alloy wheels 20 inch
* exclusive bumpers
* New rear diffuser
* Check exhaust renewed
* Sport Suspension
* Side Skirts
* Rear Spoiler
* R-Line logo

Inside are aluminum pedals and inserts, sport seats, special leather wrapped steering wheel and optional two-tone leather upholstery. Recommended prices in Germany are between 1,840 and € 8,330 depending on the engine and whether the R-Line is easy, or R-Line Plus (with two-tone leather, power seats, etc).

Michael Schumacher presented the new 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK video

The special event celebrating the 125th anniversary of the first car in the world, Mercedes-Benz presented the new SLK. The model was unveiled by Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg alongside the designers who created it. The elements of this model include special design inspired by SLS AMG hard-top roof panel and interior glazed electromagnetic SLS also inspired by AMG. The German model is offered in the company of three gasoline engines and drive bi-turbo diesel of 2.1 liters and 205 horsepower.

In the future, Mercedes-Benz will offer a version of SLK's AMG, which will be equipped with a 428 horsepower V8 engine. Until then, it will be a range vâful direct-injection V6 that will deliver 305 hp. Together with a seven-speed automatic transmission model accelerates from 0-100 km / h in 5.6 seconds. Entry-level version is equipped with a 1.8 liter gasoline engine that provides 185 hp. Mid-range petrol model offers 205 horsepower and uses the same 1.8-liter engine. If 185 hp version equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h is achieved in 7 seconds.

Team Lotus unveiled the new car F1 T128 2011 pictures

Formula 1 Team Lotus Renault has published pictures of her new car. T128 car was presented on Monday, January 31, a free online journal team at the official site of Team Lotus.

The new car has kept the continuity of the team names Lotus: instead of the previously planned index TL11 car got the number T128 - last year's model was called the T127. The car is still painted in the traditional green and yellow racing colors of Team Lotus.

The Ferrari 599 GTO by Chris Evans (slightly) damaged by a Mini

The site specialist sports car accident Wrecked Exotics feasted recently damaged copies of Italia Ferrari 458, but has so far no cases of accidents involving the most powerful cars of the Prancing Horse range, the 599 GTO. A copy of the great Italian GT is unfortunately of experiencing a little tricky in the United Kingdom.

Chris Evans is a DJ and radio presenter famous in England and is also a rich automobile enthusiast, he who has among others a real Ferrari 250 GTO. The man had recently purchased a 599 GTO to complete the circle, in a gorgeous gray livery with yellow band (matching the brake calipers).
Vanessa Feltz is a co-worker Chris on Radio 2. Leaving work one evening, she started her Mini and accidentally struck the front bumper of the 599 GTO by Chris reversing. The most surprising is that she acted as if nothing had happened and would quietly went home. Fortunately, the damage seems very light.

F1 - presents 2011 Sauber C30

Exit thus the name Sauber-BMW team dear to Peter Sauber, who today unveils a car to decorate significantly advanced compared to last year. Note that the new C30 will have a KERS system developed by Ferrari engine which is its partner and that the equipment will be operational from the beginning of the season in Bahrain.

The Sauber C30 will perform some demonstration laps on the track today in Valencia, then the real testing will begin tomorrow. Hopefully the car is more reliable than the C29, the victim of numerous mechanical problems in 2010.

Ford takes revenge: F-150 parked in Ferrari 458 crash video

Accident in the United States, Ford F150 pickup truck up the hood of the Italian sports

Not all days are perfect, even for those who own financial situation is good enough to keep a Ferrari 458 Italy in his garage. This is shown by a video posted on YouTube on Saturday (29), in which a Ford F-150 literally climbed on the hood of a unit of Italian sports in Brandon, Florida (USA).

According to examiner.com information, the accident is being investigated to determine the blame for the collision. According to some speculation, Italia 458 involved in the accident has around 800 km on the odometer registered. According to the model owner himself, who gives an interview during the filming amateur, the unit is "young, has two weeks. " Check out the video of the result after the accident below.

Smart fortwo chocolate version - Special Gift for Valentine's Day

Questions on the purchase this Valentine's Day are usually frequent. Staying among flowers, jewelry, clothing and other products that leave the most special day is nothing new. But the surprise is paramount in these hours. Thinking about it, Q-Pot, a Japanese company specializing in chocolates in the shape of jewels, has developed a Smart fortwo made of candy.

To the dissatisfaction of chocoholics, the car is obviously not literally chocolate. The painting of the doors mimics a candy bar, besides being brown whole, including the wheels that are the same color. Inside, the panel that mimics a melted chocolate, increases the similarity with the product. The model was designed by Tadaaki Wakamutsu especially for Valentine's day in Japan

Toyota taking “devil’s advocate” approach to product development

If you don’t get pinched by the wiper arm on the new Toyota Yaris, you have the company’s new “devil’s advocate” product development philosophy to thank. The approach entails a team of engineers doing things with the car that Toyota wouldn’t normally be able to fathom. The events of the past year have shown that people will do wacky things with their cars, like making floormat layer cakes, and this spurred management changes like more local authority for North American operations.

Toyota has installed more executives in its American plants and given the U.S. arm of the business its own decision-making power on recalls, rather than waiting for word from the home office. A single database of internal and external vehicle quality discussions is also being put together to make Toyota’s reaction more nimble.

There are critics of the efforts. Clarence Ditlow of the Center for Auto Safety doesn’t find a new attitude in Toyota’s response to quality complaints much of a departure from the past, calling it “pretty much the same-old, same-old.” Sean Kane of Safety Research & Strategies opines that Toyota is “biding their time” and still tends to blame the victims rather than solve issues like the ones recently plaguing the company.

Whether Toyota’s reactions are percieved critically or complimentary, there is at least the indication of a desire to rectify a damaging situation, and you can now be sure that many engineering mules are undergoing strange experiments deep in the bowels of some Toyota R&D bunker to quantify the effects of ECU pins shorted by a french fry.

Source:Autoblog

Nissan blows by Honda in global automotive sales

In the U.S., the pecking order among Japanese automakers looks like this: Way out in front is Toyota, followed by Honda and Nissan respectively. On a global scale, however, Nissan has finally leapfrogged Honda for second banana status. Torque News reports that Nissan’s global sales soared 21 percent in 2010 due in part to exploding business in China. All told, Nissan moved 4.08 million units during the calendar year.

Honda also saw increased sales, but it managed only a five percent gain. That’s 3.56 million vehicles sold, or about 500,000 fewer units than its rival. 2010 was a very solid year for Nissan, as well its alliance partner Renault, which also fared very well. Together the two automakers combined to sell 7.3 million cars and trucks. That’s more than Ford or Volkswagen, though Renault-Nissan sales aren’t officially counted together when the final rankings are tabulated at the end of the year. Toyota led all automaker sales for the year, followed by General Motors and VW.

Source:Autoblog

Fiat 500 to have no-haggle sticker pricing?

Haggling, ugh. Generally speaking (and with a few notable exceptions) it’s one of those unavoidable aspects of buying a new car from a dealership. If you’re good and you’re willing to shop around by pitting dealer against dealer, you may end up scoring something of a bargain. Thing is, if you’re not such a good haggler, you’re seemingly just as likely to pay more from a stealership than the next guy, which hardly seems fair.

According to Fiat’s brand spankin’ new United States arm, the younger car-buying generation isn’t particularly keen on the notion of haggling for a better price. As such, the company has directed its dealerships to adopt a no-haggle pricing policy, starting with the new-for-the-U.S. Fiat 500. “The pricing is the pricing,” said Laura Soave, head of the Fiat brand in North America to Bloomberg, much as it was with the now defunct Saturn brand. We think it’s a lovely idea and hope it sticks.

2011 Chrysler 300

“We basically blew the old car up. The number of parts we carried over from the last car you can just about hold in your hands,” said Mitch Clauw, Chief Engineer on the 2011 Chrysler 300.

He was responding to repeated questions about the new sedan. Was it all-new, or just a heavy refresh like the 200 Sedan? You can’t blame journalists for being confused. Chrysler’s product onslaught is putting 16 all-new and significantly improved models on the road this year. But all-new is a very different thing from significantly improved.

Clauw supported his answer, “Every exterior panel is new. Every piece in the interior is new. With the underbody, just a few pieces of the front floor pan are carry over. The front and rear aluminum suspension pieces and geometry are different. So is the steering. The V6 is all new. While the internals of the Hemi are carryover, the intake, exhaust and accessories are not.” Okay, we believe him now, but you’d need really big hands to hold the carried-over five-speed automatic transmission.