Lamborghini running strong with record sales and profit in 2008

The current economic conditions may be wreaking havoc on the Detroit Three, along iwth Toyota and Honda, but Lamborghini is apparently impervious to the global financial crisis. The House of the Raging Bull posted record sales and profit records for the fourth straight year and has followed through on its promise to introduce a new model every year during that time period. The company has no intentions of reducing funding for R&D, and plans to expand its global presence and dealer network throughout the next year. Here at Autoblog, we're all for Lamborghini's continued success, especially if they continue to let us drive their new models. More details on Lamborghini's current status and future plans in the press release after the jump.

Toyota in the red, won't meet U.S. production levels

Toyota is often seen as the automaker that can do no wrong, but the giant Japanese company has just released official sales and profit data for the year that's ending, and it's not all roses. Amazingly, 2008 will mark Toyota's first-ever annual operating loss since the brand's inception. Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe calls these times "an unprecedented emergency," and "a crisis unlike the crises of the past." This just one year after issuing the company's largest profit ever last year. Things have apparently gotten so bad that the automaker has - and we're not making this up - unplugged its electric hand dryers.

What does this mean for such popular picks as the hybrid Toyota Prius? We've already reported that the automaker will postpone the opening of its plant in Mississippi that was slated to assemble the Prius in the US, but Toyota's profit warnings affect much more than just that one plant. When it's all said and done, Toyota's goal is to assemble 60 percent of the cars for the US market right here in the States. That figure dropped down to 55.2 percent last month, and it's expected to drop further when the 2010 Prius gets up to full production capacity in Japan.

2009 BMW 750i and 750 Li Pricing Announced

BMW has announced the pricing on the new 2009 BMW 7-Series for the U.S. market. The 2009 7-Series will be available to U.S. customers in two variants including the 750i and the 750 Li with prices starting at $81,125 and $85,025 respectively.

Power for the 2009 BMW 750i and the 750 Li comes from a 4.4L twin-turbocharged V8 making a total of 400-hp and a peak torque of 450 lb-ft. EPA has yet to reveal any certified fuel-economy ratings but don’t expect them to be anything that will bring in fuel-saving conscious buyers into BMW dealerships.

Both 2009 BMW 7-Series models will arrive in showrooms starting spring 2009. BMW also has plans to offer a 7-Series Hybrid some time next year.

2010 BMW 6 Series Spy Shots

Finally we get to see some new prototypes being driven around. Moving away from all the Z4, PAS, 7 Series shots, today we have the next generation 2010 BMW 6 Series, codename F13. With the current car being already very successful, BMW will not drastically change the design.

What we know is that the front headlights will be similar to the ones on the CS Concept but will not have the circular cut out, just a straight across slit. Longer than today’s model, the 2010 6-Series will offer more legroom for rear passengers. At the same time, it will get a sportier cockpit with a more driver oriented console layout.

We also learned that the convertible will be offered with a folding hardtop, like the new 3-Series convertible.

The rumor going around is that there will be three engine options, 306, 408, and 507 horsepower and of course the new eight-speed automatic gearbox with paddle-shifters.

That’s all we really know for now, but hopefully we will hear more soon.

Australians get another all-electric car option with Energetique evMe

If you don't want to wait for a traditional automaker to put an electric car on the road, a conversion of an existing vehicle is one way to achieve gasoline freedom. Using the Mazda 2 as their chassis of choice, Energetique has done just that with their evMe. While it's not the first new-car conversion from Down Under, it is the best looking and it offers some good performance numbers as well. Powered by lithium polymer batteries, the evMe is said to have a range of 125 to 155 miles, depending on driving mode and conditions, and the Brusa AC motor and electronics can take it up to 80 mph. Its 0 to 60 mph time is a respectable 10 seconds.

Having sold off their first copy, the conversion team reportedly have more than 100 orders waiting to be filled. The asking price is $70,000 Australian dollars (that's "only" $47,476.78 U.S) and affords you the ability to pass by gas stations forever. Hit the jump for a bit of bonus video (soundtrack alert!) of the evMe making a few passes.

Hyundai Elantra Touring priced from $18,495

Sold as the i30 elsewhere in the world, the new Hyundai Elanta Touring five-door compact will arrive soon on our shores with a base price of $18,495, which includes a $695 delivery charge. That price will put a base model Elantra Touring in your garage with a five-speed manual transmission topped with a B&M shifter. Like all Hyundais, the list of standard equipment that comes with the Elantra Touring is long and includes items like air conditioning, remote keyless entry, steering wheel-mounted cruise control and audio controls, an eight-way adjustable driver's seat, a cooled glove box and 172-Watt AM/FM/XM Satellite Radio/CD/MP3 audio system with USB and auxiliary input jacks. It also comes with Electronic Stability Control as standard equipment, which is nice to see at this price point. In fact, the only option is a Premium-Sport package that adds a power sunroof, heated front seats and 17-inch alloy wheels with P215/45VR17 tires. A maxxed out Elantra Touring with a four-speed automatic and the Premium-Sport package will go for $20,795, which is not a bad price to pay for a fun and practical five-door compact that can swallow 65.3 cubic feet of stuff with its rear seats folded and return 31 mpg on highway. Whether or not buyers in a bruised and battered economy will agree remains to be seen.
HYUNDAI ANNOUNCES PRICING FOR FUEL-EFFICIENT ELANTRA TOURING

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., December 23, 2008 – Hyundai Motor America has announced prices for its Elantra Touring five-door compact, starting at $18,495 for a very well-equipped entry-level model and $19,995 for one featuring a Premium-Sport package. The all-new 2009 Elantra Touring is a sportier, more functional variant of Hyundai's popular Elantra sedan, and will be available at dealerships in the first quarter of 2009.

2009 Elantra Touring Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Pricing
Touring M/T
Standard Equipment
Five-Speed M/T with B&M Sport shifter
$18,495

Touring A/T
Standard Equipment
Four-Speed A/T
$19,295

Touring M/T
Premium-Sport
Five-Speed M/T with B&M Sport shifter
$19,995

Touring A/T
Premium-Sport
Four-Speed A/T
$20,795

Note: All prices in this release contain a freight charge of $695

"The all-new Elantra Touring is a fun-to-drive, functional five-door," said Mark Dipko, manager, small car product development, Hyundai Motor America. "Elantra Touring provides buyers a unique offering in the compact segment, raising the bar as Hyundai likes to do in value, safety and quality. It is remarkable how many features a customer can get for under $20,000 in such a versatile five-door."

The Elantra Touring is the first five-door compact to offer standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC) in addition to a host of other class-leading safety technologies. As with all Hyundai vehicles, the Elantra Touring was designed and manufactured to meet the most stringent quality standards in the industry, exemplifying Hyundai's quality leadership position worldwide.

The Elantra Touring, with its modern, sleek styling and fun-to-drive qualities, was developed by Hyundai in response to the growing demand for stylish and functional five-door vehicles, sales of which doubled from 2001 to 2006. Five-door vehicle sales are projected to be strong into the next decade as well.

THE GOOD STUFF COMES STANDARD
Elantra Touring builds on Hyundai's reputation for offering loads of standard equipment, including air conditioning, power windows, heated mirrors, door locks, remote keyless entry with alarm, steering wheel-mounted cruise control and audio controls, eight-way adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support, a cooled glove box and plenty of storage compartments. For audiophiles, an integrated 172-Watt AM/FM/XM Satellite Radio/CD/MP3 audio system with six speakers, USB input and auxiliary input jack are standard. The Premium-Sport package adds a power sunroof with tilt and slide functions, heated front seats and 17-inch alloy wheels with P215/45VR17 tires.

STANDARD SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES
Like every Hyundai, top-tier safety was a key development goal for the Elantra Touring, which is fully equipped to protect driver and passengers. Passive safety features include dual front, side and curtain airbags -- a total of six protective airbags in the vehicle. Other safety features include active front headrests, seatbelt pretensioners and seatbelt reminders. The combination of side and curtain airbags, which help protect the head and body during side impacts, can reduce fatalities by more than 50 percent, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The IIHS also notes that active front head restraints improve rear crash protection.
The Elantra Touring comes standard with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), one of the industry's most effective life-saving technologies. NHTSA studies show that passenger cars equipped with ESC experience 30 percent fewer fatalities in single-vehicle crashes than cars without ESC. Santa Fe, Veracruz, Tucson, Sonata, Azera, Elantra SE, Entourage and Genesis are all equipped with standard ESC. Elantra Touring has earned five-star frontal and four-star side crash ratings in the compact passenger car segment from NHTSA.

ROOMY AND REFINED INTERIOR
The long wheelbase and generous width of the Elantra Touring, combined with Hyundai's expertise in interior packaging, have produced an interior that delivers class-leading comfort, functionality and practicality. Elantra Touring has the most interior volume (passenger volume plus cargo space) of any five-door in its class at 125.5 cubic feet. In fact, Elantra Touring's cargo capacity is 65.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down, which is more cargo space than many larger wagons and crossovers.

The Elantra Touring is the first compact five-door to offer XM Satellite Radio® and USB/iPod® auxiliary inputs as standard equipment. When an iPod or flash drive is connected through the USB port, located in the center storage compartment, not only does it play music through the vehicle's six-speaker audio system, but it also charges the iPod and allows the driver to access tracks with the steering wheel audio controls. This system also allows both driver and passengers to easily view song/artist/title information and control the music from the audio head unit rather than only the iPod itself. The center storage compartment location of the USB assures that iPods can be safely stowed out of sight.

The roomy and functional interior is also a quiet place to be. Based on internal tests, Elantra Touring has four decibels lower road noise levels than the Mazda3 five-door.

IMPRESSIVE PACKAGE EFFICIENCY
The Elantra Touring's exterior dimensions (176.2 inches long, 69.5 inches wide and 59.8 inches high) make it a great fit in the compact five-door segment, while its long wheelbase (106.3 inches) offers class-leading interior volume. Elantra Touring features outstanding front legroom and both front and rear shoulder room. In addition, every Elantra Touring has 60/40 split folding rear seats that fold when needed for added storage, functionality and practicality.

The Elantra Touring matches best-in-class passenger volume with best-in-class cargo capacity. There is a useful 24.3 cubic feet of luggage space with rear seats upright and a cavernous 65.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat. As in any Hyundai, the utility and convenience in the Elantra Touring has not been overlooked, with a stow-and-go removable luggage cover that stores conveniently out-of-site under the trunk area compartment. An optional restraining net is also offered.

The Elantra Touring includes a number of convenient, standard stowage and storage features, including a sunglass holder, two front and two rear cupholders, door bottle holders, dash storage, central console storage, front storage tray, front seatback pockets and a cargo area under-floor storage. For tailgaters, the cargo area also has a power-retained, 12-volt outlet that does not require the vehicle to be turned on in order to work.

ENGINE PERFORMANCE
Elantra Touring is powered by the same fuel-efficient, 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder found in the Elantra sedan. This sophisticated, 16-valve powerplant employs Dual Overhead Camshafts (DOHC) and Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) for a power band, coupled with high fuel efficiency and low emissions. Elantra Touring is certified as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV). With a manual transmission, the Elantra Touring's mileage is 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway according to the EPA. With the optional four-speed, automatic transmission, the Elantra Touring's EPA rating is 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway.

BMW announces pricing for 2009 7 Series, raises prices on everything else

The latest iteration of BMW's all-singing, all-dancing plutocrat limo will roll out the door starting at $81,125. That sum will get buyers the 2009 750i (including $825 for destination charges), but those who are looking for a bit more legroom in back will have to pay $85,025 for the 750Li. Production for these models began last month, but don't expect to see them on the forecourts of your local BMW Center until later this spring.

The rest of the BMW lineup is also getting a nudge on pricing, with the average MSRP climbing by 0.7 percent. All pricing increases are effective January 1, 2009; so if you're planning on gifting yourself a M5 or X6 for the holidays, make sure you do so before New Year's.

Lexus hints at HS 250h dedicated hybrid for Detroit show

Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe informed us at least year's Detroit Auto Show that his company would be bringing two new hybrids to this year's show in D-town. The first is the much anticipated next-gen Prius and the second is the first dedicated hybrid model for Lexus. This week the Japanese luxury automaker made it official with a page on its consumer website heralding the debut of the Lexus HS 250h on January 11, smack dab in the middle of press days for the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

Not much else is known about the vehicle, other than that it will be available to buy in the Fall of 2009. We suspect the HS 250h will be a Lexus-badged version of the Prius in much the same way that the ES350 is a version of the Toyota Camry. Thus, the HS 250h will also use the same next-gen Hybrid Synergy drivetrain that will debut in the new Prius, both sporting nickel-metal hydride battery packs for the time being until development work on advanced lithium-ion packs is completed. Stay tuned for more info on these two hybrid models from Toyota and Lexus as the 2009 Detroit Auto Show draws ever closer. Thanks for the tip, DJ Pearce!

[Source: Lexus]

Honda announces partnership to develop lithium-ion batteries

Honda has delivered some good news after disappointing its high-performance fans this morning when it announced that it has suspended plans to built the 2010 Honda NSX. The Japanese automaker announced today that it has found a partner for lithium-ion battery development - Japan’s GS Yuasa Corp.

CEO Takeo Fukui said today that Honda will team up with GS Yuasa Corp. to manufacture next-generation lithium-ion batteries for Honda’s future hybrid vehicles. The new company will be owned 51 percent by GS Yuasa and 49 percent by Honda.

Currently Honda’s Civic Hybrid and Toyota’s Prius use nickel-metal hydride batteries. Honda did not say which future vehicles will carry the new lithium-ion battery packs, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see them in the next-generation of the Honda Insight - the first generation will make its production debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show next month and will use nickel hydride batteries.

According to Automotive News, GS Yuasa currently makes lithium-ion batteries for Mitsubishi in a joint venture called Lithium Energy Japan. The batteries are much larger than the ones it will develop for Honda since those are used for a fully-electric cars. Honda’s batteries will be much smaller since they will work with Honda’s hybrid system.

Honda and GS Yuasa said they will spend ¥7.5 billion ($85.2 million) on the new company.

Peru to stop used cars imports in 2010

Poor countries usually don't have enough resources, and people who earn the median income often can't afford new cars. Instead, they rely on getting used imports. This is the case in Peru, where the government has just authorized importing used cars until 2010. However, this authorization has a serious drawback: while Peruvian citizens will continue to have cheap cars available, they'll miss out on many of the latest anti-pollution technologies. Therefore, the Minister of Ecologic Affairs, Antonio Brack, has stated that the practice of importing other country's hand-me downs should be phased out after 2010, because it floods the market with dirty vehicles (see also: the Emirates). Of course, he's missing an answer to the question of what cars would be affordable then, but bear in mind that most of the cars currently imported are totaled vehicles (from floods, accidents), purchased at knock off prices elsewhere and fixed.

Great photos of a BMW 135i Coupe

Once I received these photos in the email, I knew that I have to share them with you. The black BMW 135i Coupe along with a great Nikon camera make together a nice desktop wallpaper or even…a BMW ad.

If you have been a long time reader on our blog, you might remember that I was and still am a big fan of the new BMW 135i Coupe model, that was launched earlier this year.

The BMW 135i Coupe was one of the most anticipated bimmers in the past few years and the buzz before the launch reached impressive levels. As soon as the car came out, we took it for a test drive, ignoring the not so friendly Chicago weather.

Josh, our editor, decided to test the 135i Coupe in the beautiful sunny North Carolina and he put the car to some intensive testing.

The Black Sapphire Metallic is a great color on the 1 Series, but it comes with a hefty price: keeping it clean at all time. The car’s owner in these photos, SF_VR6 from e90post, seems to be doing a great job detailing the car and to spoil us even more, he snapped a shot of the Porsche Cayman S sitting next to the bimmer.

Thanks for the tip Michael!

G-POWER M5 HURRICANE achives a 228mph top speed

G-POWER has done it again. The M3 Hurricane can now be named the fastest sedan in the world, breaking a long-standing record of the Brabus Rocket. Back in March, we wrote about G-Power’s tuning program, named “Hurricane”, and also about their 730 horsepower M5.

At the time, the M5 ran the track with a top speed of 200 mph, but G-Power had bigger plans for their M5. In November 2008, G-POWER M5 Hurricane RS achieved a top speed of 228.4 mph (367,59 km/h). The previous 227.2 mph (365,7 km/h) hold by the Brabus, has been broken. The test took place on tracks in Papenburg.

While the Brabus has a V12, G-Power uses only a simple V10 from the shelves of BMW and modified this engine with other two superchargers from G-POWER’s technology partner ASA, with enlarged capacity.

According to G-POWER the BI-Kompressor system could be raised from 0,7 bar rel. to 0,8 bar rel., but the system has not reached its limit yet. Companies representatives confirmed that if needed, the system could be improved and the M5 Hurricane could be taken to a whole new level.

Which level that might be, time will tell. We’re almost positive that Brabus has something in-works to regain the lost status.

Subaru indefinitely delays diesel Impreza launch in UK

The Japanese yen is currently causing lots of problems for Japanese automakers. When the yen is weak, profits go up for Japanese companies that make most of their money by exporting vehicles to other countries. Conversely, when the yen is strong - as it is right now, having hit its highest valuation in 13 years - profits diminish. Subaru is just one of the automakers that's finding it tough to make a buck (or a yen) these days, and it has responded by indefinitely delaying the launch of its oil-burning engine option in the Impreza for the UK market. This news likely comes as a major blow to European dealers, considering that diesel engines handily outsell their gasoline siblings when they do manage to go head-to-head. Still, it's just as well that it'll be delayed as it would be priced out of the market if launched on schedule. Japanese officials have already called on the government to intervene by lowering the value of the yen, and if that happens, Europeans will finally get their diesel Subarus.

Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR Stirling Moss coming to Detroit

• • Only 75 units will be made with a price tag of 750,000 Euros.
• • 5.4L V8 Supercharged engine producing 650-hp.
• • 0 to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds; Top speed of 217 mph.

Things are starting to look better for the press and visitor of the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. After all the spyshots we’ve seen, Mercedes-Benz announced today that it will unveil the 2009 Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR Stirling Moss - named after racing legend - wait for it… Stirling Moss.

The car with no roof, side windows or windscreen, aka a speedster, is powered by a 5.4L V8 Supercharged engine making a total of 650-hp. 0 to 62 mph will come in 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 217 mph. The standard Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR makes 617-hp and accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 3.8 seconds with a top speed of 206 mph.

Mercedes-Benz will produce only 75 units prices at 750,000 Euros each. Existing SLR customers will have top priority on ordering the car.

2009 Mercedes-Benz McLaren Stirling Moss:

2010 Chevrolet Equinox debuts before Detroit

• • Design inspired by the Chevy Malibu sedan and Traverse crossover.
• • 2.4L Ecotec direct injected I-4 making 182-hp; 21/30 mpg.
• • 3.0L DOHC direct injected V6 producing 255-hp; 18/25 mpg.

Sunday is usually the most boring day of the week. However, with some government bailout money and General Motors ready to make significant changes to their lineup, Sunday’s can be fun again. Today GM has released the details and pictures of the new 2010 Chevrolet Equinox that will make its debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show next month. Make no mistake - GM will advertise and flaunt fuel-efficiency on all future vehicles.

“At a time when customers are so concerned about the fuel efficiency of their vehicle, the Equinox delivers,” said Ed Peper, GM North America vice president, Chevrolet.

The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox will go on sale in mid-2009 in LS, LT and LTZ trim levels with all-wheel-drive available as an option. As mentioned above, the 182-hp 2.4L Ecotec direct-injected engine with a maximum torque of 174 lb-ft will return an estimated fuel-economy of 21/30 mpg (city/highway). The 255-hp 3.0L direct-injected V6 producing a peak torque of 214 lb-ft, will return 18/25 mpg. Both engines offer a driving range of more than 500 miles.

The inside of the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox is heavily influenced by the new Chevrolet Cruze interior. The upgraded interior gets a new “floating” center console, a number of storage compartments, MultiFlex rear-seat capability allowing the seats to be moved fore and aft nearly 8 inches, 31.4 cubic feet cargo area and ice-blue ambient lighting to make it all look good.

Standard features on the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox will include: six standard air bags, four-wheel disc brakes with StabiliTrak electronic stability control and traction control, OnStar and XM Satellite Radio and a fuel-saving electric power steering system that will save you approximately one tank of gas each year by saving 11 miles per tank of gas on 2.4L models.

Optional features include 7-inch touch-screen navigation system, Bluetooth, USB audio connectivity, DVD-based rear-seat entertainment system (with two independent screens to enable DVD viewing on one and gaming on the other), a hard drive to store all your songs, Power rear liftgate, rear-vision camera system, and a premium audio system with 8 speakers and 250 watts of output. You can also chose from a family of 17, 18 and 19-inch alloy wheels and the “Smart” remote starting system that also activates the HVAC system and optional heated seats depending on the outside temperature.

BMW to offer 7 Series with xDrive AWD in late 2009

Buyers in the upper echelon of the luxury segment are increasingly demanding all-wheel traction on their rides, and BMW has evidently grown tired of seeing would-be customers flocking to rival automakers like Audi and Mercedes-Benz to get what they want. So for the first time in the model line's history, the new BMW 7 Series will be offered with all-wheel drive.

Engineers in Bavaria have reportedly worked hard to keep the 7's rear-drive dynamics intact, and have opted to fit the xDrive system with a 30:70 rearward bias instead of the 40:60 in other applications. xDrive-equipped 7s will also get a slightly higher ground clearance and Hill Decent Control, a system usually reserved for serious off-road vehicles. The option will be available on all versions of the 7 save the smallest diesels and gasoline engines that we don't get in North America anyway, fetching a €2500-2800 premium (in European markets) over conventional rear-drive versions. BMW is testing the 7 Series with xDrive in snow-draped locales before the option is offered in other markets starting at the Frankfurt Motor Show in October 2009, after which Quattros and 4Matics will be looking over their shoulders.

Prius generates power in Massachusetts snowstorm

As anyone who watches the evening news would already know, the East Coast States have been hit hard with horrible winter weather over the last week or so. This snowy pounding has revealed a new use for the Toyota Prius, or likely any hybrid that recharges its batteries with its internal combustion engine. John Sweeney, a resident of Harvard, Massachusetts, lost power to his home for three whole days. That all sounds horrible, especially in such awful weather. Fortunately, Sweeney came up with a novel way to use his hybrid car by connecting a power inverter to his Prius' battery and using the hybrid as a generator. According to reports, Mr. Sweeney was able to run "his refrigerator, freezer, TV, woodstove fan and several lights through his Prius, for three days, on roughly five gallons of gas." We imagine that proponents for a future electrical grid that gets power from hybrid and electric cars during peak hours are quietly smiling to themselves. Thanks for the tip, Corey!

Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo: Primeiros Testes

A Lamborghini testou oficialmente pela primeira vez o Gallardo Super Trofeo na pista de Vallelunga, perto de Roma, e segundo a marca italiana, o carro para o seu troféu monomarca, é o mais rápido de qualquer carro de troféu deste genero.

A corrida inaugural do Gallardo no Super Trofeo será a 2 de Maio de 2009 na pista americana de Silverstone.

O Gallardo Super Trofeo é baseado no Gallardo LP560-4 de série, contando com o V10 5.2l com injecção directa, modificado para produzir cerca de 570cv. A potência será "dominada" pela caixa e.gear de 6 velocidades robotizada com tracção ás quatro rodas permanente. Para complementar, a suspensão foi revista, vai contar com pneus Pirelli de competição, upgrade dos travões e asa posterior ajustável, e claro o interior com banco e volante de competição, interior "limpo", e som a combinar....

PRESS RELEASE:

Last week saw the Automobili Lamborghini development team and engineers from tyre partner Pirelli put the Gallardo Super Trofeo through its paces on the Vallelunga Race Track outside Rome. This marked the first tests under simulated race conditions, with Lamborghini test driver Giorgio Sanna behind the wheel. From the very outset, the lap times achieved were faster than any ever recorded with a single-brand trophy race car on this track.

The new Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo delivered the first evidence of its outstanding performance in initial testing, with extremely good handling and excellent lap times. Preparations for the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo are running well within schedule. The first race of the world's fastest single-brand competition is set to be run on 2 May 2009 at Silverstone.

The focus of the calibration work was on the tyres and the race car set-up. "During the 40 minute race, the drivers are not permitted to change the tyres. Therefore, we have to pay particularly close attention to the durability of the slicks," explains Giorgio Sanna.

Exceptionally good handling

Particular attention was also paid to the individual calibration options for the new race car based on the various tracks and drivers. "The Super Trofeo should be easy for gentlemen drivers to control, yet challenging for professional drivers," says Sanna, who has already carried out rain tests on the race track in Nardo. "The permanent all-wheel drive and high aerodynamic downforce give the Gallardo Super Trofeo exceptionally good handling."

"We are well within our schedule, and will continue to push things forward," says Manfred Fitzgerald, who is Director of Brand and Design for Lamborghini and responsible for the Super Trofeo. "Ultimately, we want to provide our teams with a race car that is not only fast, but also perfectly reliable."

The world's fastest single-brand trophy
The Super Trofeo is the only one-make series in the motorsport world to feature cars with all-wheel drive. And it is Lamborghini's clear objective to ensure that it will be the fastest single-brand series in the world – partly due to the technical superiority of the all-wheel drive principle. Starting in May, the Super Trofeo will make guest appearances at six race events – at Silverstone (UK), on the Adria Raceway (Italy), on the Norisring (Germany), in Spa (Belgium), in Barcelona (Spain) and on Paul Ricard racetrack (France).

Lamborghini is building 30 cars for the Super Trofeo, which they are making available to individual enthusiasts, as well as to Lamborghini dealer teams. The factory will enter one car for itself, and plans to commission well-known guest drivers to take the wheel. And on the edge of the racing action, the Super Trofeo Village hospitality venue will be available.

A top-class race car

The Super Trofeo race car is based on the Gallardo LP 560-4, powered by the new 5.2 litre V10 with direct fuel injection (IDS), generating an increased output of 419 kW (570 hp). Its power flows through the e.gear six-speed robotized gear box to the permanent all-wheel drive with viscous traction – the kind of power transmission perfectly suited to motorsport.

The Super Trofeo is a top-class race car in every detail. Its chassis, featuring double wishbone suspension all round, has been reworked specifically for the purpose. The competition tyres are supplied by Pirelli and a specialist racing brake system provides brutal stopping power with racing ABS. Additional body components such as the large, adjustable rear wing are made from carbon-fibre composite. The cockpit incorporates an ultra-light race seat, a racing steering wheel and additional specialized racing instruments.

Nissan X-Trail Goes Diesel

It was recently reported that Asian car maker Nissan Motor Company would soon be launching the Nissan X-Trail’s diesel version. This vehicle would be unveiled in Japan and it would still be coming as a sport utility vehicle, except for the fact that it could now run using diesel. The event is set to happen on September this year.

According to the car maker, the Nissan X-Trail has been given a diesel engine because it has been found out that the recent developments with diesel engines have made vehicles bearing such to be more efficient with fuel. Also, they would have less CO2 emissions compared to those which run on gasoline. Nissan also did disclose that they have used new technologies with the diesel engine so that the exhaust gases would be cleaned and would be less harmful when emitted. The technologies does include the use of catalysts.

There have been no announcements though as per the price of the diesel-powered Nissan X-Trail.

Audi Q7 is 2008 IIHS Top Safety Pick

The Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Top Safety Pick award for 2008 to the Audi Q7, a luxury performance SUV. The luxury performance SUV came out on top as it received a ‘good’ rating in all three crash tests: side impact, offset frontal, and rear impact seat tests.

The Q7 isn’t the only Audi recognized this year for outstanding vehicle safety ratings. The Audi A3, A4 and A6 have also been recognized as Top Safety Picks for 2008, giving Audi the honor of having the most Top Safety Pick designations for any luxury automaker for 2008.

To achieve the Top Safety Pick honors, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute’s front, side and rear tests. The vehicle should also be equipped with electronic stability control. Audi offers this safety feature as standard on every model it rolls out.

“For Audi, safety and performance have always gone hand in hand: our cars are engineered to offer the best not just in crash protection, but in preventing traffic accidents altogether,” said Johan de Nysschen, executive vice president, Audi of America. “With the launch of the Audi Q7 TDI clean diesel in 2009, American SUV buyers will have even more options from which to choose for safety as well as fuel economy, convenience and performance.”

Volvo bringing back free maintenance program

It's our pleasure to announce that the economic downturn is responsible for something you might actually want, other than cheap gas: Volvo is offering free maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles on all 2009 models. Volvo ran the program most recently until 2006. But with sales in the tank, Volvo dealers have been pleading with Volvo to bring it back in a bid to get more customers. Volvo higher ups finally agreed, and dealers think that this will help a potential customer choose Volvo over another make, especially a domestic, if she knows she won't be on the hook for creaks and leaks. BMW, Land Rover, MINI, and Saab also have free maintenance programs, and VW has started the program for its 2009 models. Now if only Volvo offered the S60 Concept with free maintenance...

Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

The Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid is GM's latest attempt to capture some of the mid-size family sedan market dominated by Toyota and Honda.

Unlike other competitive systems, this system is less complex, unable to run on electric power only. It uses the electric motor to provides extra power for accelerating and as a generator to charge the batteries when slowing down. GM refers to this system as a "Mild Hybrid."

The engine management computer automatically turns off the engine while the vehicle is stopped for better city mileage. In real world conditions the system works very well, offering reasonable fuel savings. And since it's not as complex, GM is able to offer the Malibu Hybrid at a reasonable price.

The Chevrolet Malibu has garnered much praise in the automotive press, having earned the title as " 2008 North American Car of the Year."

Subaru Impreza diesel delayed for the UK

In this installment of "As the Yen Skyrockets," Autocar is reporting that the introduction of the long-awaited Subaru Impreza diesel has been delayed indefinitely due to unfavorable exchange rates. A source inside International Motors, the firm that imports Subarus into the UK, told Autocar, "At the current rate we would have to charge vastly more than we can justify for the diesel Impreza if we were to make a profit. As a result we can't guarantee when the car will go on sale as we can't predict when the economy will change."

Both Toyota and Honda are facing the same problem, with Honda CEO Takeo Fukui going so far as to threaten moving Honda's headquarters outside of Japan. Analysts predict that the yen could begin to sink in the coming weeks, but if the market doesn't correct itself, the Japanese government might have to intervene and begin devaluing its currency.

Mitsubishi MiEV visits Monaco, readies Euro homologation

The little Principality of Monaco is keeping up its role in the media spotlight for their EV efforts. The small country will soon be the location of the first European tests of the all-electric Mitsubishi MiEV, still expected to go on sale in 2010. Of course, the Japanese vehicle will probably be put on sale in the UK before the Continent because it is right hand drive, but who's counting. As you can see in the pic, the MiEV was recently part of a promo photo with Prince Albert II of Monaco as part of the vehicle's Continental introduction (but, if you consider Iceland to be in Europe, then this wasn't the premiere). In case you've missed our previous coverage, the MiEV has a 120 mile range and can quick charge in under 30 minutes.

Ssangyong out of money; what does it mean for Phoenix?

Earlier this month, we found out that Phoenix Motorcars was still working on its all-electric SUT, but that its use of the Altairnano lithium titinate battery is currently in question. Even before that, Phoenix announced that it would be switching from its first motor supplier, UQM, to some other supplier. So, to recap, the SUT - if it's ever released to the public at all - will use different batteries and a different motor than originally stated. Now, news comes from Ssangyong, original suppliers of the chassis and bodywork for the Phoenix SUT, that it is in such poor financial shape that it cannot afford to make payments to its workers. All manufacturing has apparently been stopped. New guts: check. New bones: check?

Besides the obvious issue this raises with all of Ssangyong's future hybrids, we wonder what it means for the future of Phoenix Motorcars. We know that Phoenix just recently announced plans to deliver EVs to Hawaii for testing, but we're seriously beginning to wonder if all of these setbacks and changes will be enough to keep the SUT from ever seeing the light of day.

700hp Lightning GT EV on track for 2010 launch

The Lightning GT is powered by a permanent magnet brushless motor located in each wheel
Following its debut at the London Motor Show earlier this year, Britain's answer to the Tesla Roadster, the Lightning GT electric sports car, is expected to move to the next stage of development in 2009. The team behind the Lightning GT has announced that they will be producing two prototypes by the second quarter of 2009, with a view to start the first customer deliveries in early 2010.

Information at this point is scarce, and currently the car's exact specifications have not yet been finalized. Meanwhile, the company behind the project is still seeking capital from investors and an exact location for production is also still uncertain, which all means that the promised delivery date may need to be pushed back.
Some of the details we know about include a 700hp (522kW) electric powertrain featuring nano-titanate battery technology, which is enough to propel the car from 0-60mph in a flat four seconds and take it a top speed of about 130mph.

The electric drive system, dubbed Hi-Pa Drive, packs four permanent magnet brushless motors with one in each wheel. The system also allows for full traction control and regenerative braking on all four wheels independently. Due to power being developed separately in each wheel, there are no gearboxes, differentials, axles, drive shafts or propshafts in the Lightning sports car.

One of the key benefits of electric vehicles is that they have maximum available power at the wheels at any speed, unlike a petrol engine where maximum power is only obtained high up in the rev range. Officials claim charging the batteries for just ten minutes will provide up to 250 miles of driving, and at current prices driving one mile will cost just 2.5 cents.
To save weight, the car’s body is made from carbon fibre and Kevlar, and even with the full array of batteries on board the GT has a near ideal weight distribution of 48/52 front to rear. The car is also available with luxury items such as air-conditioning, satnav, and full leather trim.

Despite downturn, Toyota re-commits to F1

Toyota has reiterated its commitment to F1, in spite of its first annual operating loss since 1938. Said Toyota CEO Katsuake Watanabe of Toyota's F1 budget, still the largest in F1 at $445 million, "To keep it up at the current level is extremely difficult." Yet even with the loss, the global economic mess, the belt-tightening on the corporate side, and the fact that Toyota hasn't won a race in seven years, a Toyota spokesperson said, "We don't have anything to add to the statement we made on 5 December [committing to F1 after Honda's pullout -- Ed.] because the financial results don't change anything for us in the ­formula one team. Our situation has not changed." The FIA has suggested that next year's cost cutting measures will save teams 33% over their 2008 budgets. On top of that, Toyota is conducting its own cost cutting study to see what it can do over and above that. We have a feeling 2009 won't see Toyota on top of the big spenders list again.

New Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S with 433HP to Debut in Detroit

At the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit this January, Maserati will take the wraps off the sportiest Quattroporte yet. Based on the Quattroporte S, the new Sport GT S gains a more powerful version of Maserati's 4.7-litre V8 engine with a remapped ECU that delivers an output of 433HP. Maserati also updated the gearshift management software while the front and rear suspension system gets new single-rate dampers, stiffer springs and lower ride height. Other mechanical changes concern the new sport exhaust system which is controlled by pneumatic valves for a deeper and more throaty sound bite.
Cosmetic changes over the standard Quattroporte S include a new black grille with concave vertical fins featuring the Trident logo with red accents, a metallic titanium finish for the headlights, body-coloured door handles, black finishing around the doors and black twin oval exhaust pipes. Inside the sportiest Quattroporte boasts new M-design seats with perforated Alcantara and leather upholstery as well as titanium colored composite material for the trim.

SAE to launch program to create standard plug for EVs

There are a number of hurdles to overcome before we're all parking electric cars in our driveways and garages. We often tend to focus in on the vehicle itself, as there is plenty of work to be done on that front, not the least of which is creating suitable batteries. Remember, though, that an entire infrastructure already exists for gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles that will need to be replaced if we're all driving with electrons. Early EV adopters may get specialized systems installed in their homes to charge their new electric toys, but not every manufacturer will be offering the same thing. So, standards will need to be created so that any EV will work with any EV charger.

Aren't we forgetting something, though? What goes between the charger and the chargee? That's right, a cable with plugs on each end. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) is expected to release a new set of standards that plug-makers will need to adhere to so that their prospective units are, as Popular Mechanics points out, sleek, safe and smart.

2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid: New Set of Teaser Photos

Another week, another set of teaser pictures of Toyota's worst kept secret, the 2010 Prius Hybrid. This time, the Japanese automaker has released shots of the new compact hybrid's engine compartment, headlight, the Lexus Hybrid inspired illuminated Toyota logo and what appears to be a door handle. The third generation Prius will make its physical debut at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month. From what we know up until now, the new car is going to be bigger than the outgoing model and it will feature a more powerful yet more fuel efficient and tightly packaged hybrid drivetrain system. Hit the jump for the full image gallery.