2012 BMW M5 Sedan Realistically Rendered

This took alittle time and effort to get it right. by the way…im going with these type of side gills for this new M5 just because of the shape of the car, its a more rounder look like the new M3 so i went with the M3 style gills instead of a flat gill pasted on the side of the car. makes sence if you think about it  These Renders look as if someone took photos of this car at a car show  Enjoy my renders. Thank You.

Via: F10 Forums (by Alpine325ci)

Paris : Range Rover Evoque shows up ready for production

Land Rover’s critical new Range Rover Evoque debuted today at the Paris Motor Show, ushering in a brave new world for the British off-roader brand. The debut continues the company’s march toward the softroader segment, a movement first started with the LR2/Freelander and now resulting in the handsome new three-door seen here.

Slated to be joined shortly by a five-door version, the compact Evoque fits right into the Land Rover mold design-wise, albeit with a surprising amount of surface jewelry for such a sleek two-box shape. From the protruding fog lamps to the horizontal matte chrome-trimmed hood intakes to the unique divots atop the wheel lip moldings and the somewhat fiddly taillamp lenses, there’s quite a bit to draw one’s eye. The overall impression one gets of the vehicle on the show floor is one of imposing width, a feeling that’s magnified when you realize that an individual of average height can see over the vehicle when standing next to it.

Land Rover Evoque won’t get hybrid

Despite the fact that Land Rover has gone out of its way to promote its new Evoque as an environmentally friendly alternative to its normal brand of behemoth globetrotting earth movers, Auto Express reports that the front-wheel drive (optional all-wheel drive, naturally) unibody Rover won’t be getting a hybrid powertrain option.

Instead, Land Rover’s global product director John Edwards suggests that any future electrically assisted powertrains will likely be featured in the larger Discovery (LR4 in the States) and Range Rovers. Edwards points out that the Evoque was designed as a lightweight machine, and a small four-cylinder diesel engine can provide the kind of fuel mileage targeted for the model.

While it’s certainly true that hybrid componentry adds complexity and weight, American and Japanese automakers have proven that it’s certainly possible to put the fuel-saving bits and pieces in smaller-sized vehicles. What’s more, diesel vehicles aren’t exactly commonplace on American roads or dealerships, leaving us to wonder if the U.S. market will be left out of the high-mpg loop yet again.

2012 Mustang 5.0 comes with lower price, new features

For those of you desperate to get your hands on Ford’s new 5.0-liter Mustang GT, it just got a little easier. Pricing has dropped for the base model of the 412-horsepower pony car by $500 for the 2012 model year, edging back under the 30k mark to $29,995. In contrast, the Premium GT model sees a price increase of $200 while the Premium GT Convertible is $700 more than last year.

While the 2012 Mustang lineup carries over relatively unchanged, there are a few updates to keep the cars fresh. Ford will be offering a new color, Lava Red Metallic, available on both the exterior and interior, while Sterling Gray Metallic will no longer be available. Ford has also added a few minor features like a universal garage door opener and sun visors with a storage system and illuminated vanity mirrors, and the EPAS steering system will now also come with three modes – Comfort, Normal and Sport.a

Romeo Ferraris and Fenice Milano pay tribute to Monza with limited edition Abarth 500

Like weddings in the Deep South, everything with cars is relative. For instance, we’d strain to call most cars with racing stripes running every which way “subtle.” But when the treatment comes from Fenice Milano, anything short of gold chrome is understated. See? Relative.

The Milanese design house is the same that has gilded everything from the Fiat 500C to the Rolls-Royce Ghost. But for this special edition, they’ve teamed up with Romeo Ferraris, the Italian tuning house that’s given us custom Corvettes, Land Rovers and of course… Fiat 500s. Okay, so between them there’s no lack of love for the retro hatchback, and this is the embodiment of their shared passion: the Abarth 500 Monza.

A limited-edition tribute to the legendary grand prix circuit, the Monza edition is limited to just ten examples. So what makes it so special? Well it’s got red and blue racing stripes – the track’s official colors – that do a wicked Herby the Love Bug impression, sans Lindsay Lohan (for better or worse). But while the stripes continue into the white leather interior, this isn’t just a trim package.

Romeo Ferraris stepped in to nearly double the engine’s output, upping the horsepower figure from 135 to 260. They also threw in 280mm Brembo disc brakes, 205/40-R17 Yokohama tires and a full aero kit. And in case that wasn’t enough with the special treatment, each example gets a brass plaque with the owner’s name, an edition number on the shifter and a whole mess of Monza logos all over the place. Which may seem a little over the top, but again: think relative. And while you’re mulling that over, check out the high-resolution images in the gallery below.

2011 Vauxhall VXR8 is all we really want for the holidays

Listen, General Motors. We know you’re kinda busy getting back on track, jump-starting your IPO, and generally getting your house in order. We appreciate it and everything. But could we ask just one favor? You see this Vauxhall? Could you bring it over to this side of the Atlantic, please? You don’t have to bring Pontiacback to do it, no matter how many people are still looking it up on Google. You can slap a Bowtie badge on the nose – heck you can make it a Buick if you want. Call it a Daewoo for all we care. Just bring it here.

What we’re talking about is the new Vauxhall VXR8, and it could very well be the best performance sedan The General offers this side of the Cadillac CTS-V. And it’s just undergone a series of updates, complete with a restyled front end, tail and interior, along with some new gizmos to keep all the power in check.

The VXR8 is based on the Holden Commodore, but instead of the hot ClubSport R8 model on which the previous Vauxhall was based, the new model starts with the new E3 GTS just launched in Australia. That means a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 with 425 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque – kept in line by new Magnetic Ride Control and Launch Control systems, driving through a six-speed transmission (automatic or manual) and a mechanical diff – for a 4.9-second sprint to 60 mph and an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph.

There are plenty more reasons to want this muscle sedan on American shores, pronto, and you can read all about ‘em in the press release after the jump. We just hope someone at the RenCenter is listening.

Gemballa moves past founder’s murder with 2011 Porsche Cayenne Toronado

Death is an ominous shadow to cast over a company. All the more so when the death in question was not, as the case were, from natural causes. But in the wake of Uwe Gemballa’s passing, the company that bears his name appears to be emerging from that shadow, creating the beast of a machine seen here.

So far all that’s been released about the new Gemballa Tornado are the images you see here and scarce few details. It’s based on the 2011 Porsche Cayenne, and as you can tell, replaces many of the body panels with carbon fiber. Uwe Gemballa’s successor, Andreas Schwarz, points out that unlike other aftermarket body kits, the composite panels on the Tornado replace the steel ones on the stock Cayenne instead of simply applying them on top. And an aggressive-looking job they’ve done of it, integrating gigantic air ducts, LED running lights, a significantly wider track and restyled taillights, all in a high-contrast treatment while shaving a good 150 pounds off the big sport ute’s curb weight.

Further details on the interior still under development and the engine – tipped to produce some 700 horsepower with a Stage 2 turbo kit – are expected to follow. As will pricing, which promises to be just as astronomical as that horsepower figure, with only 30 examples slated for production.

Audi deflects criticism about A1 pricing

There’s been some speculation that the steep price tag on the Audi A1 has kept the hatch from being the sales success that Audi had hoped. Right now, the A1 commands a €15,800 price tag in Germany (that’s a bit over $21k USD), and many analysts seem to think that kind of coin is well out of the reach of most young buyers. Audi, meanwhile, says that it isn’t having any issues moving A1 models off of dealer lots. The automaker is still on track to build 50,000 units this year, and hopes to put 30,000 into the hands of waiting buyers.

According to Automotive News, Audi has sold around 20,000 A1 hatchbacks since the hatchback hit the market in August. Even if things are as rosy as Audi claims, there’s some indication that the company will move to make the vehicle even more appetizing in the near future. European buyers may be able to get their hands on a five-door version of the car in short order. As of right now, the three-door design is the only available body configuration – and no, you still can’t have one, America.

Chevy to unveil Volt-based Amp crossover in Detroit

According to Car and Driver, General Motors may have something special planned for the Detroit Auto Showin January. Word on the web is that The General is planning to pull back the sheets on the next vehicle to use the extended-range hybrid drivetrain from the Chevrolet Volt. The next branch in GM’s electrified family tree will be a five-seat crossover, potentially called the Chevrolet Amp. Using the same basic architecture, engine, motor and batteries from the Volt, a production Amp would help GM spread its substantial Voltec development costs over more than one model.

GM has been making noise about a crossover with Volt guts for some time, and thanks to the sleuth work of the detectives at Car and Driver, we know we may be closer than ever to seeing the vehicle become a reality. The company has gone through the pains to register a host of web domain names associated with the Amp moniker, some of which were snapped up as recently as October. Combined with the unveiling of the Volt MPV5 Concept at the 2010 Beijing Motor Show, there’s a good chance that a battery-operated Crossover will grace Detroit with its presence next month.

2011 Lexus CT 200h to start at $29,120*

If Lexus has any hope of meeting its goal of selling 1,000 CTs here in the U.S. each month, the little hybrid hatchback is going to need an attractive price point. Whether or not $29,120, the rumored base price of the2011 CT 200h (*not including destination, taxes, etc.), will be enough to get foot traffic in Lexus dealerships remains to be seen.

According to the website The Lexus Enthusiast, this pricing data was mistakenly leaked a day ahead of its planned-for arrival by the official blog for Lexus of Reno, apparently since removed. If true, a tad over $31K out the door ought to nab you a nicely equipped CT with a moonroof and heated seats, and of course there are a slew of available options that include premium audio, navigation, leather seating surfaces and Lexus’ Pre-Collision technology.

For what it’s worth, assuming these prices are accurate, the 2011 CT 200h will be the least expensive new Lexus sold in America. The base price for the IS series and HS 250h hybrid sedan is several thousand dollars higher. And, perhaps more importantly, the CT looks to be priced about $2,000 less than the 2011 Audi A3 TDI.

2011 Acura RL presents slight changes to an aging package

For the 2011 model year, Acura has freshened up its flagship RL sedan. What exactly does “freshened up” mean when it comes to the RL? It may not look like much more than a cosmetic touch-up, but there are quite a few new tricks going on under the nip-tucked skin.

The 2011 Acura RL continues to utilize the 3.7-liter V6 engine with 300 horsepower that powers all four wheels courtesy of the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system. New to the powertrain, however, is a six-speed Sequential Sportshift automatic transmission. It’s a smooth-shifting unit that allows for the occasional sporty dash courtesy of the wheel-mounted paddles while also improving fuel economy by two miles per gallon on the highway – EPA ratings come in at 17 mpg city and 24 highway.

An upgraded gearbox is nice and all, but since this is an Acura we are looking more for new technology. The 2011 RL is fitted with Hemholtz resonators in the wheels (a “world’s first” for a passenger vehicle). These chambers sit in the center portion of the inside of the wheel and help diminish road noise, which results in a quieter cabin. Coupled with increased floorboard insulation, the 2011 Acura RL behaves like a library out on the road. Unless of course you twist the knob for the ELS audio system.

Hyundai hits 500,000 sales in U.S. for first time ever

It should hardly come as news to anyone reading blog that Hyundai is in the midst of a hot streak. New models are coming out left and right, the automaker’s quality is reaching new heights and there are no signs of slowing down. So while the automaker’s momentum isn’t news, its sales numbers are: For the first time in its history, the Korean manufacturer has broken the 500,000 unit sales barrier in the States.

The hottest item for Hyundai this year? The aforementioned Sonata, of which 183,102 have been sold. The Sonata is followed by the Elantra and Sante Fe with sales of 120,924 and 70,082 respectively.

This is Hyundai’s 25th year in the United States and its sales are way up for the year. Sonata sales are up 64 percent over last year while the Tuscon has exploded – up 145 percent – and the Genesis has gained 37 percent over its prior year sales.

Land Rover Evoque won’t get hybrid

Despite the fact that Land Rover has gone out of its way to promote its new Evoque as an environmentally friendly alternative to its normal brand of behemoth globetrotting earth movers, Auto Express reports that the front-wheel drive (optional all-wheel drive, naturally) unibody Rover won’t be getting a hybrid powertrain option.

Instead, Land Rover’s global product director John Edwards suggests that any future electrically assisted powertrains will likely be featured in the larger Discovery (LR4 in the States) and Range Rovers. Edwards points out that the Evoque was designed as a lightweight machine, and a small four-cylinder diesel engine can provide the kind of fuel mileage targeted for the model.

While it’s certainly true that hybrid componentry adds complexity and weight, American and Japanese automakers have proven that it’s certainly possible to put the fuel-saving bits and pieces in smaller-sized vehicles. What’s more, diesel vehicles aren’t exactly commonplace on American roads or dealerships, leaving us to wonder if the U.S. market will be left out of the high-mpg loop yet again.

Geneva Preview: Hyundai i40/Sonata wagon gets officially rendered

Hyundai is preparing to launch a new European D-segment model at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March that will compete against such vehicles as the Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat, and it’s released a slew of advance renderings of what we might expect.

Filling the slot in the Korean automaker’s European line-up that’s filled in North America by the Sonata (with which it is a very close twin), the i40 has been designed and developed in Germany by the company’s European R&D center in Rüsselsheim. The design closely follows those of recent Hyundai design studies, the Genus concept most closely.

The i40 is slated to go on sale shortly after its debut in Geneva in wagon form, with a sedan version expected to follow. The engine range is expected to include a 2.0-liter, direct-injection four-cylinder producing 170 horsepower and a 1.7-liter turbodiesel with outputs ranging from 115 horsepower to 136, with more powerful versions to follow. In the meantime, take a stroll through the image gallery below for a closer look, as the i40 is almost certainly what a Sonata wagon would look like were Hyundai ever to launch it in the States.

Toyota recalling 94,000 2011 Sienna minivans over brake light bracket issue

Toyota has issued a voluntary recall for approximately 94,000 2011 Sienna minivans produced before the beginning of November 2010. The recall is a result of a Stop Lamp Switch Bracket placed near the parking brake. When the parking brake is fully applied it may deform the switch bracket. This could result in the brake lights remaining lit or even partial engagement of the brakes resulting in a reduction of brake effectiveness over time.

No other vehicles have been affected by the issue and no accidents or injuries have been reported as of a result. Owners of affected vehicles will receive a notice in the mail by the middle of January, which contains instructions on how to handle any affects they might feel if their switch bracket has been deformed. A second notice will be sent out in February to inform customers that replacement parts are now available and appointments can be made with local Toyota service departments. Hop the jump for the full details.

New Stratos unveiled in retro Alitalia rally livery

The New Stratos has been drumming up a world of enthusiasm. And with good reason: the original was one of the most iconic rally machines ever devised, and the modern tribute looks to be living up to the legend in the grandest of style. That hasn’t stopped some from saying the design doesn’t look enough like the original, but that could very well come down to the paint scheme.

No, what we really need is to see it in the same livery displayed on the original in its heyday. Fortunately that’s just what they brought out (as a mock-up from the looks of things) at the car’s debut at Paul Ricard HTTT in the South of France. Want to see more from the unveiling? Follow the jump and feast your eyes on the video footage there to be viewed.

Honda teases 2012 Civic before Detroit debut

Here’s our first official glimpse at the face of the next-generation Honda Civic. This sketch is intended to give the world an idea of what we can expect from the Civic show car Honda will display at the Detroit Auto Showin January. From the looks of things, the compact coupe will take the look of the current Civic and throw in some additional attitude. Along with some aggressively swept headlamps reminiscent of the European Civic Type R, the sketch also shows off a fascia with more menacing proportions. A large air inlet down low and slit fog lights help pull the car from the throws of anonymity.

Of course, it’s always difficult to tell what will survive the transition between design sketch and reality. We don’t expect to see those huge wheels nor the wildly flared hips make their way to production. Speaking of production, Honda has a long history of rolling out concepts that are nearly identical to the real deal, so keep your eyes on Detroit for what could be the first look at the next Civic.

GM Perfomance Parts let you build your own 700-hp Camaro

It’s that time of year, kids. Horsepower-crazy General Motorsfans are anxiously dancing around their mailboxes waiting for the latest edition of the company’s performance parts catalog to arrive. As with past years, the glossy pages are packed from margin to margin with everything you need to give your Bow Tie a little extra giddy up. For 2011, the catalog has fully embraced the Camaro, and a pair of dealer-tweaked versions of the Chevrolet muscle car show exactly what you can do with little more than a crate engine and some spare time.

DeNooyer Chevrolet in New York decided to plop an LSX454 in their orange Camaro, coupled to a six-speed manual transmission via the same clutch used in the mighty Corvette ZR-1. The car turns over 520 horsepower and 530 pound-feet of torque at the rear wheels thanks to a tune-port fuel injection system.

But that’s downright child’s play compared to what the minds at NeSmith Chevrolet in Georgia cooked up. Those wrenches plopped an LS9 behind the Camaro’s headlights. With minor tweaking, the supercharged V8 is kicking out right at 700 horsepower, and NeSmith threw in beefier axles and a Baer brake system to bring the whole party to a stop. Hit the jump to check out the press releases.